The coach predicted a fourth-place finish for his squad this season with the division favorite's nod going to Monta Vista. The Pioneers were 1-13 a year ago and 0-12 in league.

"We're much improved," said Honma, whose team lost by matching 3-0 scores to Saratoga and Willow Glen last week. "We started nine sophomores last year. We should be good next year."

Top returners for the Pioneers this fall are senior forward Hilary Lawson, senior fullback Ashlee Duran and junior forward Andrea Dolera. All three are returning all-league players.

Sophomore forward Melanie Boyle is a top prospect on the Cupertino varsity.

The Pioneers were looking to return to their winning ways when they played to host to St. Ignatius on Tuesday, and they'll be on the road to face first-place Monta Vista on Oct. 16, 3 p.m.

The Matadors, who were to host Del Mar on Oct. 14, boast a 6-1 league record and 8-1 season mark following wins over Leland (2-1) and Live Oak (1-0) last week.

In the BVAL's West Valley Division, Homestead will play a couple of home games this week. The Mustangs will entertain Westmont on Oct. 15, 3 p.m., before hosting Berkeley on Oct. 17, 3 p.m.

Top players for the Mustangs this fall are Megan Brady, Steph Ericsson, Margaret Suito, and goalkeeper Elyse Maru.

In Mt. Hamilton Division play, Lynbrook nailed its first league win with a tight 1-0 victory over Leigh. The Vikings are now 1-4-1 in the division and 3-5-2 for the year.

The Vikes, who played Los Altos on Tuesday, will face a Thursday bye before visiting Prospect on Oct. 21, 3 p.m.

Mustangs win

It was a big day for Homestead boys water polo when the Mustangs played host to Santa Clara Oct. 7 in Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division action. The Mustangs two-timed the Bruins, nailing a 14-8 varsity win and following that up with a 19-1 frosh-soph victory.

Brian Bucher pitched in eight goals and Adam Hock added four to lead the Mustangs the varsity win. Taemin Oh and Karta Khalsa also scored for Homestead.

The Mustangs were to play Lynbrook on Oct. 14 and will be back in the water on Oct. 21 for a 3 p.m. game at Wilcox.

Homestead falls

The Homestead football team has a very powerful, explosive offense this season. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, so does Palo Alto.

The Mustangs scored 40 points last Friday afternoon in Palo Alto, but the Vikings scored 49 to remain unbeaten for the year and tied for first place in the De Anza Division.

Homestead slipped to 2-3 for the year and to 0-2 in the division with the loss. Paly is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in league play.

The Mustangs got off to an exciting start when Eric Dodge returned the opening kick-off 99 yards for a touchdown and added the extra-point kick.

The Vikings answered right back with a touchdown drive, then the clubs traded scores to lock up in a 14-14 tie in the second quarter.

Chris Morris went 52 yards for a Homestead TD to make it 20-14, but Paly scored twice to move in front 28-20.

Jake Mecchi completed passes to Cephus Brown and Felix Uribe to lead the Mustangs down the field and Morris took it in from the 3-yard line.

But the Vikings scored again before intermission to take a 35-26 halftime lead.

Once more, though, the Mustangs fought back. Mecchi hit Uribe with a 24-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 35-32 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

Palo Alto scored two more times to lead 49-32, but there was no quit in the Mustangs. Morris ran back the second Paly kick-off 80 yards for a touchdown and Mecchi hit Ricky Gross for the 2-point conversion to trim the Paly advantage to 49-40 with 54 seconds left in the game.

But the Mustangs simply ran out of time.

Homestead will be gunning for its first league win this week when the Mustangs meet Mountain View on Oct. 16, 7:15 p.m., at Fremont's Diesner Field. It will be homecoming night for Homestead.

'Birds beat Mats

Jay Atkins and Aaron Hickson each picked off passes and returned them for touchdowns to lead Fremont to a 23-15 El Camino Division victory over Monta Vista last Friday night.

Atkins ran back his interception 17 yards for a first-quarter score and Hickson returned his 71 yards before the end of the period. Sean Garrett kicked the extra point after the first score, and the Firebirds led 13-0 heading into the second.

A 27-yard field goal by Han-Nung Wang got Monta Vista on the scoreboard before the half, the Matadors went in at intermission trailing 13-3.

Senior quarterback Mike Silva blasted over from the 1-yard line for a third quarter touchdown and Garrett converted to give the Firebirds a comfortable 20-3 to take into the final quarter.

But Monta Vista came storming back. Jason Dias tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Michael Butler, then Andrew Lane gave Fremont a dose of its own medicine by picking off a pass and racing 78 yards for a TD to cut the Fremont lead to 20-15.

Fremont closed out the scoring, though, with a 28-yard field goal by Garrett to hold on for the win.

The Firebirds, now 1-1 in the division and 1-4 for the year, will visit Los Altos on Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m., for a league game.

Monta Vista, 0-1 in league and 1-4 for the year, will visit Cupertino on Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m.