Thus far, it seems to be working to Saratoga's advantage. While opponents have been doing a double-take, the Falcons have been scooting past them to win their first six games of the year.

Saratoga topped Santa Clara 3-2 and Prospect 3-1 last week to push its record to 6-0 in the young '05-06 campaign. Coach Dave Bluetrich's girls have now scored 16 goals while allowing just three in a half dozen games.

Twins Rachel and Nicole Sabes, Claire and Katie Marsh and Julie and Kelly Seago make up a good portion of the team. But the Falcons haven't just been winning games in the preseason because opponents have been confused by look-alike players, they've been winning because this is a talented crew at Saratoga this winter.

Seniors captains Sarah Inman, Elise Schwartz and Katherine Bertelsen lead the Falcons into action this season, the eighth for Bluetrich as the Saratoga head coach.

The Falcons ran their record to 6-0 last week with the win over Santa Clara. First-half goals by N. Sabes, Bertelsen and Joanna Tung helped Saratoga jump out to a 3-1 lead by intermission. The Bruins made it close with a close in the second half, but lost 3-2. Tung also had an assist in the win.

Saratoga trailed Prospect 1-0 at the half earlier in the week, but the Falcons unloaded with three unanswered goals in the second half to clinch the win.

J. Seago tied it with a goal off a Lisa Brenner assist, and Rosie Belpasso scored off an N. Sabes assist to give the Falcons the lead. Aleks Aleksic added an insurance goal off a Belpasso assist.

Sophomore Laura Barrett and freshmen Sophie Sequeira and Hana Pruzansky round out the Saratoga squad.

The Falcons will take their perfect non-league record into the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division season this week. They were to host Los Gatos on Dec. 13 and will head to Palo Alto on Dec. 15, 3:30 p.m., before breaking the Christmas holiday.

Girls basketball

The Saratoga girls basketball team, meanwhile, remains winless after eight games in the '05-06 season. the Falcons lost two games at the Notre Dame-Belmont Holiday Classic after dropping a non-league decision to San Lorenzo Valley 39-33 earlier in the week.

The Falcons were gunning for their first win of the season at home against San Mateo on Dec. 13 and will visit Valley Christian on Dec. 20, 7 p.m.

Saratoga gave SLV a run for its money by outscoring the Cougars 14-11 in the final period, but came up six points short.

Mika Lewis, a 5-foot-7 senior, led the Falcons with nine points in the game, including a three-point bucket. Lisa Ruddy (5-foot-5 junior) added eight points and Alex Sclavos (5-foot-7 freshman) had five, including a three.

Paige Henry (5-foot-7 senior) added four points, Vanessa Guzman (5-foot-7 sophomore) three, Katie Reed (5-foot-3 senior) two and Tiffany Poon (5-foot-6 senior) and Sonali Sheel (5-foot-8 senior) one apiece.

Saratoga dropped a 64-22 nod to Westmoor to open the Notre Dame-Belmont tourney.

Lewis led the Falcons with 13 points, hitting a pair of threes among her five field goals. Henry added four points, Sara Farsio (5-foot-10 junior) three and Poon two.

Saratoga had a rough time against Sequoia in the consolation bracket, losing 49-19. The Falcons were held scoreless in the final quarter.

Reed topped the Falcons with eight points, Henry had four, Lewis hit a three and Sheel and Katie Low (5-foot-3 sophomore) had two points each.