Sophomore is soccer team’s leading scorer
Off the soccer field Rose Vandenberg is reserved. She shies away
from interviews and blushes when attention is focused her way.
On the pitch however, the sophomore striker breaks out of her
shell and acts like the league-leading scorer she is.
Sophomore is soccer team’s leading scorer
Off the soccer field Rose Vandenberg is reserved. She shies away from interviews and blushes when attention is focused her way.
On the pitch however, the sophomore striker breaks out of her shell and acts like the league-leading scorer she is.
Monday afternoon on a soggy San Benito High School soccer field, Vandenberg added three more goals to her league-leading total. In the process she helped the Haybalers vanquish the Monte Vista Christian Mustangs 3-0.
The win pushed the Haybalers’ record to 5-3-1 and Vandenberg’s total to 27.
“She’s played awesome for us so far,” said Coach Mike Schurig after the victory. “Of course the shutouts are always good. Our defense has stepped it up over the past couple of weeks.”
San Benito’s stonewall defense was so good that Vandenberg put up more shots than the entire Mustangs team. The Haybalers took advantage of the fact that the Mustangs’ inexperienced lineup did not play team ball.
“That’s something we have got to work on,” said Mustangs’ Coach Jose Romero. “We don’t play as a team. It’s something we’ve worked on in practice and in games. It just going to take more time.”
Instead of passing to open teammates, some of the Mustangs tried to go one-on-one with the Haybaler defenders. Schurig and the Haybalers, however, pride themselves on stellar one-on-one play. During practice Schurig conducts one-on-one drills. The players who beat him start the next game.
Vandenberg and her teammates gave the Mustangs a quick lesson in team play.
Up 1-0 in the first half, Vanessa Gowett stripped Mustang Lisa Norrbom of the ball, made the smart pass to the center of the field, where the ball was immediately redirected toward a streaking Vandenberg.
After beating the defender to the ball, Vandenberg feigned hard to the left and cut back to her right. The quick stop by Vandenberg caused the defender to lose her footing.
Vandenberg immediately dribbled toward the goal as another Mustang bore down on her. She rifled home a right-footed goal for a 2-0 lead.
The Haybalers had multiple scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize on most of them. Striker Jenny Maheu had several open shots but just could not quite get the ball into the net.
Tuesday the Haybalers are back in action when they host the Seaside Spartans at 3:30. The Tri County Athletic League schedule kicks in after the Christmas break with a match-up versus the Live Oak Acorns.
The Acorns are favored to win the TCAL.
