Sara Yamasaki scored two goals and the San Benito Lady Balers
scored their first win on Saturday when they shut out visiting
Milpitas 3-0 in non-conference action in Hollister.
HOLLISTER
Sara Yamasaki scored two goals and the San Benito Lady Balers scored their first win on Saturday when they shut out visiting Milpitas 3-0 in non-conference action in Hollister.
The victory, which followed a 3-3 tie against Santa Catalina last Thursday, was another strong performance by the Lady Balers since their 5-1 defeat to Santa Cruz last week.
“Overall, the kids are playing great soccer right now,” head coach Ben Alvarez said.
San Benito (1-2-1) took 23 shots on net to Milpitas’ two, building a three-goal lead as a result, while the Balers’ newly-formed defensive unit kept the Trojans at bay for 80 minutes.
Already with Marissa Adame and Kaitlyn Fontaine at fullback, Alvarez dropped Samantha Moreno to sweeper and Hannah Cobb to stopper — a new foursome that paid dividends against Milpitas.
“We have a solid wall on the back line,” Alvarez said.
And the offensive and defensive unit seemed to complement each other as well on Saturday. Moreno, from her defensive position, delivered a long kick to a streaking Berniece Bribiesca, who drove in on a breakaway from the left side and deposited the game’s first goal just 14 minutes into regulation.
“We were trying to clear our box,” Alvarez said. “Bribiesca took it around the corner for a score.”
Five minutes later, keeper Elizabeth Miller cleared the defensive zone for San Benito, and Sara Yamasaki took over from there. The junior went right down the middle, split two defenders and found the back of the net in the 19th minute.
“All on her own, pretty much,” Alvarez said.
The Lady Balers held their 2-0 lead until the second half when Yamasaki tacked on her second score in the 78th minute.
Forward Karly Leon dribbled to the top of the box before passing off to the right side where Yamasaki’s first shot was blocked by Milpitas’ goalie. On the rebound, however, Yamasaki pocketed goal No. 2 and a 3-0 San Benito lead.
The Lady Balers, who played three games last week, will play again on Monday when Scotts Valley visits Hollister for a non-conference match. Kick-off is 3:30 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 F
MILP 0 0 0
SANB 2 1 3
