New Hollister High girls soccer coach, team expect deep postseason run 

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After winning two of the first three games of the season, new Hollister High girls soccer coach Amber Painter said she is looking to focus on ball possession this year. The team is looking to make a deep foray into the playoffs. 

“The big thing I’m trying to teach them is to feel relaxed and have fun with one another,” Painter said.

Releasing some of the pressure that comes with expectations for a team that won the Central Coast Section Division 4 title in 2023 and has made the Central Coast Section playoffs every year since 2021 was noticeable after taking a 1-0 lead against Pioneer in the 31st minute of the first half on Dec. 5. 

Leading up to the score, Hollister had created several scoring opportunities where the ball either hit the cross bar, went just wide or was saved by the goalie.

But once senior midfielder Zamaya Rivera gave the Balers the lead on a corner kick, sophomore forward Sophia Williams followed up with two goals within nine minutes of play.

“It kind of happened for our first game, too,” Painter said. “It was trying to get those goals, those shots, those opportunities and then once it did fall into place, it was beautiful. They felt relaxed. You could see it in their faces.”

The Balers’ goals came off set pieces, a result of high press on the field and timely position to take advantage of defensive rebounds. 

The Balers beat Pioneer 3-1 and followed that with a 2-0 win over Lincoln High. They lost their season opener 3-1 to Aptos High.

Asked about the key players this year, Painter said she has players like Rivera throughout the field controlling the center midfield, senior midfielder Kylie Barnes and junior midfielder Ana Kaplansky on the outsides making runs, and senior Karen Alvarado-Castillo anchoring the defense.

“Our whole back line is fantastic,” she said, adding that two freshmen in Manaya Rivera and Claire Lovejoy are contributing in the midfield and forward positions.

“They’re all key players,” she said, adding that both her keepers, sophomore Grace Garman and senior Itzel Flores, will see significant play time.

Zamaya Rivera said a key for the team this season will be finishing plays.

“We want to score goals, so I think we just need to finish that last piece because we’re so dominant in the middle and in the back,” she said.

Painter said the ability to score goals will help the team control the intensity of the game.

“We’re going to keep possession of the ball, we’re not going to force the ball,” she said. “And we’re going to make smart choices.”

As the new coach, Painter said she began from scratch not knowing which players had previous varsity experience. 

“It’s been fun to navigate where the players are,” she said about forming the team. “I didn’t look into [returning players] ahead of time. I just based it on talent.”

Painter has several years of experience on the pitch and on the bench. She played four years of high school varsity in Southern California before playing at CSU Monterey Bay. 

She then transitioned into coaching by starting with recreational leagues before becoming a coach in middle school and junior varsity in Carmel. She was also on the coaching staff of the Monterey Peninsula College men’s team for a season.

Painter said the girls from the start of tryouts mentioned the goal was to make the playoffs.

“We have a talented group of girls, so as long as we play with possession, keep our composure and take advantage of the attacks, I see us going far into the playoffs,” she said.

BenitoLink thanks our underwriter, Hollister Rotary, for helping expand the sports coverage around San Benito County. Rotary is a nonprofit organization that conducts humanitarian projects, encourages high ethical standards, and works toward world understanding. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.