As a volunteer coach of the De Anza Impact, a select 17 and under girls soccer team with players from several area schools, Whalen directs an amazing cast of high school athletes who hope their play in premier tournaments catches the eyes of college coaches.

But neither coach nor players imagined a script of summer success like they achieved in July, during a Scandinavian vacation of competition, learning and fun, and at a prestigious San Diego event in August.

"The team has been playing incredible soccer," the coach exclaimed, "with tremendous heart and phenomenal effort this summer."

"The trip was an amazing experience for everybody involved," said Whalen after the team outscored opponents 53-3 while putting together an 18-1 record during three tournaments in Sweden and Denmark.

The highlight of the European trip was participating in the famed Gothia Cup in Gothenberg, Sweden, an annual event that hosts about 1,500 teams in many age groups.

Led by an awesome defense, the Impact defeated all eight of its opponents, including national champions from Sweden, Scotland and Finland, to capture first place in its bracket. In the championship game the Impact beat a team from Helsinki, Finland, on penalty kicks (3-2), after battling to a scoreless tie during regulation play.

But more important than the competition may have been the championship environment. The team played the Gothia Cup final in a 50,000-seat stadium.

Goalkeeper Nicole Golobic (Mitty) "played very well" throughout the tournament, Whalen praised, "but she wasn't tested that often because the team in front of her shut down our opponents."

Anchoring the defense were Julia Anderson (Saratoga), Jasmine Stephens (Santa Teresa), Amanda Matthews (Mitty) and Maggie Harrelson (Carlmont of Belmont).

The leading goal scorer during the trip was Jennica Janssen (Carlmont), who tallied 16 goals. Much of Janssen's scoring success started at the midfield, where Amie Soares (Mitty) and Kate Berrini (Notre Dame of Belmont) "did a great job organizing our team and starting our attack," Whalen said.

Prior to the Gothia Cup, the Impact went to the Stockholm Summer Games, where it put together five straight wins to capture the event. The championship game was played in historic Olympic Stadium, which was built in 1912.

Other Impact players include three other Saratoga High athletes, goalie Katherine Bertelsen, forward Elise Schwarts and midfielder/defender Joanna Tung, midfielders Monica Thomas (Los Gatos), Sheela Saneinejad (Homestead) and Hillary Paine (Los Altos), and defender Sammy Kirberg (Carlmont). Other Mitty players on the team are forwards Stephaine Wilson and Christine Whalen, midfielders Catherine Kelly and Aoife Shalvey and defender Kim Cairns.

Kirberg, Kelly and assistant coach Albert Batista were not with the team in Europe. Eight parents and Saratoga High athletic trainer Heidi Peterson did accompany the team.

Five days after returning from Europe the Impact traveled to San Diego for the Surf Cup. The Impact won the championship of the Gold division.

Anderson's "incredible header" in the final minute was the difference in the championship game against the OJSC Northstars of Los Angeles, Whalen said.