The Cupertino Courier

Sports

'Tino girls claim soccer laurels on all-league

By MIKE BARNHART

All but four of Cupertino's 19 girls varsity soccer players were underclassmen this winter, making coach Jill Myers quite optimistic about her program's future. But she admits that replacing this season's four seniors will not be easy.

"My four seniors played a significant role on the team, so they will be missed," said Myers, praising Page Dickson, Melanie Boyle, Kim Chew and Jessica Sun, who were leaders on a team that included six freshmen and six sophomores.

"Our record was better than in past years, but still not as good as I had hoped," said Myers, referring to a 4-4-4 finish in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's El Camino Division and 7-8-5 overall. "We had a few ties in there in which we dominated and should have come away with a win."

Dickson and Boyle were double winners at the Pioneers' recent awards banquet, earning team honors and all-El Camino first team recognition. Dickson, Cupertino's Most Valuable Player on defense, and Boyle, the MVP on offense, were joined on the all-league first team by Chew and junior teammate Brittany Palacio, the division's Most Valuable Goalkeeper. Other team awards went to Sun (Coaches' Award) and junior Ashley Wakefield (PHD--pride, hustle, desire). Freshmen Cici Kobinski and Victoria LaBrie were picked to the El Camino's all-league second team.

Others honored

Two Lynbrook soccer players were rewarded by El Camino coaches for a fine season. Senior Adam Khan of the boys team and junior Kendra Wood of the girls squad both were first team selections.

Homestead girls Michelle Grabau and Corinne Abernathy received all-De Anza Division recognition, joining teammate Megan Foertsch, the division's Most Valuable Goalkeeper, on the first team. Two other Mustangs, Kristina Roomb and Taylor Bunula, were named to the second team.

De Anza Division girls basketball coaches selected three Homestead juniors to their all-league team. Elan Kim and Kate Moore were second team picks, and Cheryl Ichikawa was tabbed honorable mention.