Los Gatos Weekly-Times

The Mercury wins third straight national crown

LGHS senior Wallis takes Golden Boot

By Dick Sparrer

Marcia Wallis, Anna Kraus and Danielle Slaton haven't spent much time at home this summer.

But the three haven't been too homesick ... heck, they haven't had time!

The three are members of the San Jose Central Valley Mercury under-18 girls' soccer team that started the summer in New Mexico at the United States Youth Soccer Association Western Regional championships.

Late last month, the three headed to Phoenix, Ariz., with the Mercury to claim the championship in the United States Youth Soccer Association national tournament.

And now the three are off to New Hampshire to compete for the girls' under-18 National team.

Needless to say it's been a very busy, and very successful, summer for Wallis, Kraus and Slaton--and their Central Valley Mercury teammates.

The Mercury won its third straight national crown last week with back-to-back wins over the Tophat '98 Gold of Atlanta, Ga., and Cosa Express of Columbus, Ohio.

Central Valley won the USYSA under-16 and under-17 championships, and the Mercury made it three straight with the championship this summer.

Wallis, who will be a senior at Los Gatos in the fall, buried four goals, and Slaton and Staci Duncan knocked in one apiece in the Mercury's 6-0 win over Cosa Express in the national finals.

Wallis ended up winning the prestigious Golden Boot award as the leading scorer at the national championships. Wallis had five goals and an assist in the two games.

San Jose opened play at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex in Phoenix with a tight 2-0 win over the Tophat '98 Gold.

Alyson Ratzburg knocked in a first-half goal off a Kristina Jacob assist for the locals, and Wallis made it 2-0 in the second half when she scored off a Staci Duncan assist.

Shaelyn Fernandes was flawless in the goal for the Mercury. The star goalkeeper nailed 13 saves to record the shutout.

The win over the Southern Regional champs sent the Mercury into the national finals against Cosa Express, Midwest Regional champions.

Wallis snapped a scoreless tie when she scored in the 27th minute off an assist from Anna Kraus, but that was only the beginning.

Wallis scored two more goals before the half, then picked up an assist on Central's fourth goal. Wallis beat two defenders then dished off to Duncan, who knocked in the goal.

Kati McBain was tripped in the box, giving Mercury a penalty kick. Slaton buried the shot, and the locals held a commanding 5-0 lead.

But that wasn't the end of it. Wallis scored one more time to help Central Valley claim a 6-0 victory.

Slaton had two assists to go with her goal in the championship game. Kraus and McBain also had assists on Wallis goals.

Fernandes, voted the best goalkeeper in the national tournament, came through with a second straight shutout.

Fernandes and Slaton were two star players for the Presentation girls' soccer team that won the Central Coast Section Division II championship last winter.

Aly Wagner, Breanna Boling and Krista Boling were other members of that Presentation team who are players on the Mercury national championship squad. Wagner missed the recent nationals, though, because of knee surgery.

Wagner, B. Boling and Slaton were all members of the Parade All-American team last winter.

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