After losing its top scorer and offensive threats from last year’s team, the San Benito girls soccer team had to turn to youth and speed in the 2011-12 season.
The Balers didn’t earn a berth in the Central Coast Section playoffs — they did, however, finish third in the Tri-County Athletic League — but San Benito relied on its upperclassmen leadership, including leading goal-scorer Berenice Bribiesca and defensive captain Victoria Perez.
Because of their contributions to the 11-5-4 Balers, the pair of juniors were selected as the Free Lance/Pinnacle’s Female Athletes of the Winter. The soccer players tied during staff voting.
Both were selected for entirely different reasons — one for offensive skill and the other for her defense — but both were essential to the Balers’ season-long success.
“Without both of them we wouldn’t have been as good,” head coach Ben Alvarez said. “I’m eager to see what they can do as seniors.”
Playing at the left midfield position, Bribiesca, who also plays for the San Benito tennis team, was the offensive focal point for the Balers.
For the first time in her three years on the varsity squad, Bribiesca led the Balers in goals with nine. Most offensive strikes came off her foot.
“She is extremely skillful,” Alvarez said. “Her technical ability to really help the left side on offense is unique and important. She has the ability to score every time she has the ball.”
For Perez, her contribution wasn’t as immediately noticeable — a defender rarely scores — but teams that did enter Baler territory had a hard time passing the San Benito junior.
San Benito allowed only 10 goals during the league season, thanks to the play of Perez and her defense. As the defensive captain, Perez was a vocal part of the young Baler team.
She was such an essential part, she was elected as the team’s MVP at the end of the season.
“Because last year, we lost a big chunk of our defense, somebody needed to step up,” she said. “So since I was in the middle, I decided to step up and try and not let any goals by us.”
For her work on the defensive end Perez was selected as the TCAL’s Junior of the Year and was selected to the All-league first team.
“I was so surprised when that happened,” she said. “It feels really great.”
It wasn’t a surprise for Alvarez.
“She is really important to our team,” he said. “She reads the field so well and she is always in the right position. She is aggressive and gets to the ball.”
He continued, “She is a leader.”
Perez wasn’t the only junior to fulfill the team’s leadership need, Alvarez said.
Playing midfield, Bribiesca’s greatest skills were her feet and vision of the field.
“She knows where everything is at,” Alvarez said.
The year was hopefully a showcase for what she can do next year, Bribiesca said. This year, Bribiesca made sure she used her explosive shot.
“It feels nice to have some goals and do something for the team,” she said. “I also tried hard to push everyone and to do good and stuff. I like to help the forwards because I play mid. I always want to set them up. Ben always tells me to take shots and stuff because I can score from far away.”
Her greatest asset, though, was setting up speedy freshmen Chace Miguel and Brianna Bengivengo.
“They were really good,” she said. “They had a lot of speed and stuff. Having them up there, it was easier for me. We pretty much have to show them leadership and how to take it serious and not mess around.” Both players bring nearly a decade’s worth of soccer-playing experience to the Balers.
Perez started playing soccer when she was four, and Bribiesca started playing when she was six. Their love for the game stems from their competitive nature that carries over to the Balers.
“I just like the rush you get when you play soccer,” Perez said. “It’s just fun.”
It’s that competitive nature that allows the Balers to be so successful.
“Our school is very competitive and that’s why we are really good,” Bribiesca said.
If it’s up to the soon-to-be seniors, the Bales will be even better next year.
“I expect to get better,” Bribiesca said. “This year, a really big accomplishment was beating Gilroy. It’s the first time since I was here. To me, we are a winning team. I think we can win TCALs.”
