Saratoga News

The Saratoga United Soccer Club won the AYSO spring soccer league title and the AYSO Area 21 crown in the girls' 9-10 age division. Members of the championship team included (front row, l-r) Rachael Foust, Alex Riccomini, Danielle Maynes, Annie McAllister, and Elizabeth Howe; (middle row, l-r) Valerie Maynes, Hannah Gladwell, Allison Dunn, and Loretta Scudellari; and (back row, l-r) Kaitlin Petersen, coach John Howe, Kim English, Nicole Justice, Katie Mockler, Colleen Sphar, coach Don Riccomini, and Kate Rollins.

Saratoga United is unbeaten

And girls also unscored upon

By Dick Sparrer

The Maytag repairman may be "the loneliest man in town."

But the loneliest girls? No question... they have to be Katie Mockler and Kim English of the Saratoga United Soccer Club.

The two shared time as goalkeepers for the club's AYSO spring soccer team in the girls' 9-10 age division. And simply put, they spent most of the season all alone in the goal.

Most of the action was going on at the other end of the field this season as the Saratoga girls outscored opponents 74-0 on the road to claiming nine regular-season victories and three more tournament wins.

Saratoga blanked nine opponents to win the AYSO Spring Soccer League championship, then swept through three tournament games to take the AYSO Area 21 title. Among Saratoga's opponents were select teams from West San Jose, Pajaro and Prunedale.

The local girls averaged more than six goals a game enroute to the perfect season.

"But as impressive as the scoring was United's complete shutout of its competition," coach Don Riccomini said. "The emphasis on defense led to the team's motto, 'A bored goalie is a happy goalie.'"

Mockler and English shared time in the goal for Saratoga. Mockler doubled as a center forward when not in the net and English saw time as a wing.

Rounding out the outstanding Saratoga lineup were midfielders Rachael Foust and Allison Dunn; striker Alex Riccomini; wings Nicole Justice, Valerie Maynes and Hannah Gladwell; wing/defenders Danielle Maynes, Kaitlin Petersen, Kate Rollins and Annie McAllister; center defender Elizabeth Howe; midfielder/defense Colleen Sphar; and sweeper/striker Loretta Scudellari.

D. Riccomini and John Howe were the team's coaches.

Saratoga United has a Web homepage, created and maintained by Chris Riccomini, at http://www.netgate.net/~donr/index.htm