When first-year coach Cameron Peachey changed Sobrato into a
motion-offense girls water polo team this offseason, he also
changed the Bulldogs’ way of thinking. To be successful, SHS
players have had to focus more on their teammates and less on
themselves.
”
They have to operate as a team. They can’t do anything as
individuals,
”
Peachey said Friday, just before the Bulldogs plunged into their
opening game at the Wahine Classic.
”
That was a big problem last year. They kept fighting, and one
girl would try and do her own thing. It never really worked
out.
”
MORGAN HILL
When first-year coach Cameron Peachey changed Sobrato into a motion-offense girls water polo team this offseason, he also changed the Bulldogs’ way of thinking.
To be successful, SHS players have had to focus more on their teammates and less on themselves.
“They have to operate as a team. They can’t do anything as individuals,” Peachey said Friday, just before the Bulldogs plunged into their opening game at the Wahine Classic. “That was a big problem last year. They kept fighting, and one girl would try and do her own thing. It never really worked out.”
The Bulldogs still struggle at times with the new system, but their 5-2 start suggests the change has been for the better. Sobrato opened the season with a 3-0 finish at the Lincoln Tournament, beating Silver Creek, Half Moon Bay and Mountain View by an average margin of 14 goals. The Bulldogs were led by senior center Eve Okamura and sophomore driver Maya Read, but their scoring came in a wide spectrum.
“That’s good because a motion offense allows all the girls to score,” Peachey said. “It doesn’t single out any player who can be defended.”
The Bulldogs were riding high entering the Wahine Classic at Live Oak High School — and were just as confident after being dealt their first loss, 7-5, of the season against Salinas.
“Last year we played them, and they kind of beat us by a lot,” senior co-captain Gabby Smith said. “It was good we played so close today. I think we psyched ourselves out. We felt intimidated, but that’s just because of last year.”
Sobrato finished 8-6 (1-4 league) in 2010 and was fortunate not to be voted out of the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Mount Hamilton Division. Now the Bulldogs are serious about earning their first trip to the Central Coast Section playoffs.
They open league play at 3 p.m. today against Santa Teresa.
“We will be competitive,” Peachey said. “We just need to push ourselves. “The girls have the potential to be contenders.”
The Bulldogs were on the cusp of breaking through against Salinas. They had firm defense by Laeni Gross and Brittany Schmidt, stout goalkeeping by Erica Svenson and potent offense by Okamura, Smith and Read, who dominated at both ends of the pool.
“We all seem to feed of Maya,” Smith said. “She just is really aware of what’s going on at all times in the game. She knows what to do in every moment — and she has a great shot.”
Saturday the Bulldogs lost 13-5 to Los Gatos but finished the Wahine Classic strong with a 12-6 victory over Monta Vista. Both opponents reached the CCS Division I quarterfinals in 2010.
“They really needed these first games to see what we’re doing,” Peachey said. “Now they can see it’s paying off.”
