‘Balers rally to beat Cowboys, take over top spot in TCAL
Hollister – A late flurry and a little help allowed the San Benito girls soccer team to take over first place in the Tri-County Athletic League race Tuesday.
The Haybalers scored twice in the final five minutes to beat visiting Salinas 3-2. Notre Dame knocked off North Salinas 1-0 in other action to propel San Benito (9-3-1, 4-1-1 TCAL) into the top spot in the standings at the midway point in the league season.
North Salinas dropped to 4-2 in league play with the defeat.
“We can’t let down now,” ‘Balers coach Mike Schurig said after learning of the Vikings loss. “It puts a little extra pressure on us, but I don’t want the girls to feel any pressure.”
The ‘Balers faced off against Salinas far from full strength, playing without senior Carly Brigantino and junior Ashlyn Gonzales for the entire game. Senior captain and field leader Brittany Huth sat out all but 10 minutes nursing an ankle injury.
“I knew we were shorthanded but I said I’m not going to panic,” Schurig said.
Huth, who pleaded with Schurig to get at least a few minutes on the field, took advantage of that short time to deliver a big play. With San Benito trailing 1-0 in the 31st minute, Huth fired a free kick into the net to tie the game.
“Huthy definitely made a difference in her 10 minutes,” Schurig said.
But in the 63rd minute, Salinas regained the lead when Kylie Knoles-Barnett scored off a free kick by Mikaela Bozzo to make it 2-1.
The ‘Balers spent the remainder of the game pushing hard to try to tie the game.
Four minutes after the Cowboys took the lead, JC Clayton fired a corner kick that was controlled by Yaira Lizarraga, but when she turned and shot it, the ball sailed high.
With five minutes left, freshman Sophie Coelho rifled a cross pass to Lizarraga. She took a shot that was blocked by the Cowboys’ goalkeeper Jenna Piini, but San Benito freshman Samantha Moreno was there to knock home the rebound for the equalizer.
San Benito continued to apply the pressure and in the final minute of regulation, Coelho was hit hard in the box and landed on her back side and had to leave the game with soreness.
Bozzo was called for a foul on the play and given a yellow card, while the ‘Balers received a penalty kick.
Clayton stepped up and fired a shot that deflected off the keeper’s hand and into the net to score the game-winner.
“That’s going to make the difference, what you can do all the way up to the last second,” Schurig said.
Schurig was particularly proud of this win because several other players stepped up, including Rachel Maheu and Sarah Mullen who made a difference defensively.
“Maheu was a force back there. She definitely made things happen,” Schurig said. “Mullen stepped in there and she stepped up and played a good game for us. Defense is what held it together out there.”
San Benito begins second round play Thursday on the road against Notre Dame, which handed the ‘Balers their only loss of the league season. Kick off is at 3:30pm at Cal State Monterey Bay.
