After difficult 3-0 loss to Gilroy, Lady Balers bounce back with
2-0 victory over Notre Dame
HOLLISTER
There was nothing easy to absorb about San Benito’s 3-0 loss to Gilroy last Wednesday. While the team’s scoring chances were few and their passing was simply not there, the Lady Balers lost three players in the process to either injury or penalty.
First place was also lost. Both San Benito and Gilroy entered the Tri-County Athletic League showdown undefeated, and it was the Mustangs who emerged with their spotless record in tact.
But oh, how quickly they forget.
“Gilroy was back then,” said San Benito freshman Berniece Bribiesca following her team’s latest 2-0 victory against visiting Notre Dame on Monday. “We had to start over, and we started strong and we’ll finish strong.”
Monday’s win against the Spirits was far more convincing than a two-goal victory may suggest, however. The Lady Balers outshot Notre Dame 16-3, while Daniela Ocampo, Jessica Castro, Sara Yamasaki and Bribiesca controlled the middle of the field and only aided San Benito’s constant attack.
“It should have been more. We had more chances,” Bribiesca said. “But I think we were a little bummed out because of the players who were out.”
What San Benito lost in players against Gilroy far outweighed the actual loss to Gilroy, head coach Ben Alvarez said. The Lady Balers lost Kaitlyn Fontaine (rib) to injury, Samantha Moreno to a soft red card — the senior fullback received two yellow cards against Gilroy, resulting in a one-game suspension — and lost leading scorer Hannah Cobb (knee) to injury as well.
While both Fontaine and Moreno are expected to return Friday at Alisal, though, Cobb will be out at least three more games, Alvarez said. The junior mid already had eight goals this season after racking up 23 a year ago.
“But we still had to have the intensity and we couldn’t back down,” said Yamasaki, who felt the team was effected by the loss of three of its players. “Now we just need to start over again and get ready for Gilroy.”
San Benito is now 6-1 in the TCAL, 8-4-2 overall. They won’t face Gilroy again until the season-finale on Feb. 19.
With injuries taken into account, though, Alvarez still felt his team played below par on Monday against Notre Dame. By comparison, the Lady Balers defeated the Spirits 4-0 in Salinas on Jan. 7.
“Even though we controlled the game, the passing was horrible,” Alvarez said. “The passing was not good enough.
“We’ve gotta find feet.”
San Benito’s Karly Leon managed to supply the Lady Balers with all they would need when she deposited a goal in the 21st minute off a pass from Nicole Yost. The 1-0 score remained until halftime when a throw-in by Yamasaki deep in Notre Dame’s zone was cleared, but was immediately punched back in by Dora Juarez.
Juarez found Yamasaki still on the left side, and the junior midfielder’s crossing loft shot sailed just over the reach of Notre Dame’s keeper in the 46th minute.
“We didn’t come down [to their] level,” Yamasaki said.
The Spirits are now 0-6-2 in the TCAL, 1-10-3 overall.
“It was huge,” Alvarez said of the bounce-back victory.
“It was just like a new start,” added Bribiesca. “We had to start good and we have to stay strong until we get to Gilroy again.”
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San Benito will visit Alisal on Friday. Kick-off is 5 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 F
ND 0 0 0
SB 1 1 2
JV Note:
The San Benito Lady Balers defeated visiting Notre Dame by a 3-0 margin on Monday in Hollister.
The junior varsity team was led by Crystal Jara, Lucy Hernandez and Deanna Rodriguez, each of whom deposited a goal for the Lady Balers.
San Benito will visit Alisal on Friday in Salinas. Kick-off is 3:30 p.m.
