Relentless attack pushes Woodside past San Benito, 8-1
Woodside
Playing in only their fourth postseason game, and the second in as many years, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers could not keep pace with the speedy Woodside Wildcats Wednesday, as the host team won 8-1 in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
No. 6 Woodside (17-4-2) will advance to Saturday’s second round against No. 3 Monta Vista (10-4-5), while No. 11 San Benito completes their 2007-08 campaign with an 11-6-3 overall record.
“They’ve got a fantastic team and they play in a tough league,” coach Mike Schurig said of Woodside, which finished in second place in the difficult Peninsula Athletic League – Bay Division.
Woodside had UCLA-bound Yanna Dimmitt in net all game, and although the Lady ‘Balers did put one past the Bruin-to-be, it was Woodside’s attack that was seemingly relentless throughout the night.
The Wildcats scored three times in the first 10 minutes – at the 1st, 5th and 9th minute – to take a 3-0 lead early in the game.
“They played really well,” said senior defender Rachel Maheu, who was recently recognized as the Tri-County Athletic League’s Co-Senior of the Year with Gilroy’s Sara Hugo. “They got good passes and good touches, and they were all fast – their entire team.”
San Benito scored their lone goal in the 28th minute when Dimmitt made a low, left-side save, but had the ball bounce back out in front of the net where Lady ‘Baler Sophie Coelho drilled the rebound into the left side of the goal.
Despite Woodside’s high output, San Benito keeper Emily Key delivered an impressive game, making 19 saves against the Wildcats’ persistent offense.
“She was incredible,” Schurig said. “She was very positive.”
Woodside put 37 shots on net, 20 in the second half.
The ‘Baler keeper made two point-blank saves to end each half, though, both of which came in one-on-one situations.
Key will be one of the returnees next year, as San Benito will lose five seniors, including Maheu, Celina De La Cruz, Alexa Garcia, Ashlyn Gonzales and Janessa Gillies.
“It was nice making it to CCS,” Maheu said. “We were really looking forward to having fun and playing with each other because we’ve gotten along together so well this year.
“But I hope they (Woodside) go as far as possible. I hope they’re in the (CCS) championship.”
The Wildcats, which already brought plenty of speed to the table, used their artificial-turf field to their advantage Wednesday night, as they created space with speed.
“We are the only team in our league without an artificial turf field. We’re one of the premier athletic programs and we have one of the worst facilities when it comes to football and soccer,” Schurig said. “It puts us at a huge disadvantage against teams in our league and in games in CCS.”
After Wednesday’s contest concluded, Schurig was already thinking of ways to prepare his team for next year’s run at the CCS playoffs.
And he’ll have a slew of returning talent to do so, including TCAL Co-Offensive MVP Sophie Coelho and TCAL Co-Freshman of the Year Sara Yamasaki.
Lady ‘Balers recognized on the All-League team included first-teamers Maheu, Coelho, Yamasaki and JC Clayton; second-teamers Janessa Gillies, Samantha Moreno, Hannah Cobb and Key; and Garcia, De La Cruz, Yaira Lizarraga and Christiana Perez were named honorable mention. Additionally, Lizarraga, Brittany Henderson, Ashlyn Gonzales and Nicole Yost were recognized for sportsmanship.
“For next year, my plan is to have my preseason games against harder teams,” Schurig said. “We have a lot of young talent (returning) … They kept their heart. They kept in there.”
