Hollister High girls soccer postseason run ends in semis

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A late goal ended the Hollister girls soccer season in the semifinals round of the Central Coast Section division 4 postseason. 

With nine minutes left in regulation time, Crystal Springs Uplands School of Hillsborough scored the goal that gave it a 2-1 win on Feb. 25. 

Senior midfielder Zamaya Rivera, who is among the key play-makers on the team, said despite all the defensive pressure from Crystal Springs Uplands, she felt the team had a chance at winning the game if they could have capitalized on their scoring opportunities.

“I think we did great,” Rivera said. “We just couldn’t put it in the back of the net.”

First-year head coach Amber Painter said she was proud of the team’s success and the players’ willingness to take on the challenge to play the style she tried to instill. 

“I’m just so proud of them accepting it and wanting to play that possession game and figuring out the dynamics of all that,” Painter said. “So my takeaway is next season we come in and we get to rock and roll with exactly what we already have set in place from this season.”

After a deadlock in the first half in which neither team created a clear scoring opportunity, the intensity picked up in the second half after Crystal Springs opened the scoreboard in the third minute.

It took Hollister eight minutes to respond.

In a corner kick, Senior midfielder Zamaya Rivera headed the ball that the keeper could not control off a bounce and sophomore forward Samantha Alvarado-Castillo took advantage by tapping it into the net. 

“They just grind every time,” Painter said. “They don’t ever sit on the fact that they’ve been scored on. They will rise to the challenge and they’re going to find ways to put it in the back of the net.”

With little to no room to string passes together due to the pressure of the Crystal Springs Uplands midfielders and defenders, the Balers’ attempts at through balls, crosses and long-range shots were unsuccessful. 

“Zamaya was getting trapped the whole second half,” Painter said. “She had three bodies on her almost at every moment so it was hard for her to release the ball quickly. They knew exactly what they needed to do with her, but she still created opportunities because that’s Zamaya.”

Rivera said this, her last high school season, has been more special because she was able to share the pitch with her younger sister, freshman forward Manaya.

“I always played with my older sister,” she said. “I never had the chance to play with my younger one, so being able to play with her was one of the best things.”

Painter said the team improved on attacking with diagonal through balls, possessing the ball and being patient.

“From day one to now, these girls have just impressed me so much with their enthusiasm, their teamwork, their camaraderie,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls.”

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.