Gorman girls play complete game against Durango
In winning its first nine games, the Bishop Gorman girls soccer team has shown to be one of the area’s most impressive teams. But, in the eyes of coach Lora Feely, the Gaels had yet to put together a complete game.
Until Thursday.
Senior midfielder Mariah Hobbs notched a hat trick and had a role in all of her team’s goals as Gorman blanked Durango 4-0 at Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex.
“For us, it’s not a question of whether we have the right players, but who comes ready to play,” Feely said. “It takes focus and heart, and we put both together.
“This was the first time we’ve played as a team instead of individuals, which is what we need to do.”
The victory, coupled with Western’s upset over second-place Sierra Vista, gives the Gaels (10-0, 8-0 Southwest League) a six-point cushion in the standings with six games remaining. Durango (4-5-1, 4-3-1) is in third place, 11 points back.
It was the seventh hat trick in 10 games for Hobbs, who is set to sign a letter of intent with the University of San Diego next week. She scored twice in the first half when the Gaels took a 3-0 lead and added her 23rd goal of the season in the 74th minute.
“I felt in the first and second half we played a lot better than we have throughout the season,” Hobbs said. “I think this game showed we can play as fast as Arbor (View) and Centennial.
“We’ve been pretty slow throughout the season, but we’re starting to pick it up.”
Hobbs set up Gorman’s first goal three minutes into the match.
After a steal by Megan Wasiak, Hobbs played a nice through ball into the box for Ashley Thomson, who slotted it past Trailblazers goalkeeper Erna Husic for a 1-0 lead.
Hobbs then made it 2-0 in the 18th minute when she pounced on a loose ball following a cross from the left wing by Wasiak and knocked it home.
“We’re playing a collection of people who are just so hard to play against,” Durango coach Barry Forget said of the Gaels. “We tried to mark (Hobbs). If you go player for player, there’s no way to match up physically.”
In the 22nd minute, Durango was whistled for a hand ball in the box, and Hobbs converted the penalty kick to give Gorman a 3-0 advantage at the break.
“She’s the kind of player any coach would like to have, as a player and a leader on and off the field,” Feely said. “About the worst thing I can say about her, and it’s not bad, is she’s too hard on herself.
“She expects to be the best, and she works at it. She doesn’t settle for mediocre.”
The Gaels outshot Durango 8-2 in the opening 40 minutes, including Courtney Beckwith’s blast off the crossbar in the fourth minute and Wasiak’s floater that banged off the post in the 30th minute.
Gorman dominated possession in the second half, limiting the Trailblazers to one shot on goal after halftime. Hobbs finished off the hat trick with a strong individual effort, dribbling through three players before beating goalie Skye Allen.
“It’s not all about the goals,” Hobbs said. “But it’s always nice to end the game on a good note.”
Senior goalie Alex Holland, who will sign with Louisiana-Monroe next week, and Kaylie Vitale needed to make just two saves to combine on the shutout, which was the fifth in a row for the Gaels.
“We possessed the ball and passed it around, and we worked as a team instead of individuals,” Hobbs said. “We have the talent. We haven’t been able, until now, to start playing together. It’s starting to look better.”