Almaden Resident

Sports

Chargers blank Cats in hockey

By Eli Segall

Sticks were flying last week for Blossom Valley Athletic League girls field hockey teams, as each school hits the home stretch before the Nov. 9 Central Coast Section playoffs.

The Mt. Hamilton Division saw some tough matches on Oct. 23. Saratoga defeated St. Francis 2-1 at home, and Los Gatos squeaked out a 1-0 victory over Monta Vista.

Leland turned in a home field shutout over St. Ignatius, winning 3-0. Natalie Herz scored the first and game-winning goal, followed by Allie Roe and Christina Vierra. Whitney Reyes assisted on Herz's goal, and Jessica Kolte earned the helper role on Roe's shot.

Two of three Mt. Hamilton matches went into overtime on Oct. 25.

Archbishop Mitty's Jamie Garland scored in overtime in a 3-2 victory over visiting Saratoga.

St. Francis handed Los Gatos a 3-0 defeat on the Wildcats home field.

In the other overtime game, St. Ignatius edged Monta Vista 3-2.

Leland improved to 8-4 for the year and to 5-4 in the Mt. Hamilton Division with the win over the Wildcats. The Chargers, who were to visit St. Francis (11-1-2, 7-1) for a key game on Tuesday, will face another band of Wildcats this week when they host Los Gatos (10-4, 6-4) on Nov. 2, 3 p.m., in the final game of the regular season.