Saratoga News

Sports

Saratoga girls soccer team is young this year

By Dick Sparrer

They're on a young movement on the soccer field out at Saratoga High School, and head coach Terra Vitarelli seems to like what she sees in the young talent.

Saratoga had only three seniors on the soccer squad this winter--defenders Laura Barrett and Sofie Singer and midfielder Lisa Brenner--but the Falcon boss welcomes to appearance of five talented freshmen and a couple of other newcomers to the program.

The coach has singled out sophomore Nikki Walker and Singer as players to watch this season along with freshmen Kristen Bartlett, Sarah Guy, Jordan Leonard, Jan Iyer and Samantha Li.

The new Falcons figure to team up with Barrett, Brenner and a cast of veterans that includes juniors Victoria Azzi, Rose Belpasso, Jackie Gragnola, Nicole Sabes, Rachel Sabes, Julie Seago and Kelly Seago and sophomores Claire Marsh, Katie Marsh and Hana Pruzansky.

The Falcons are off to a rocky start in the young season, with two losses already in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and six losses in seven games this winter.

Saratoga knocked off Gunn 5-2 in a non-league game for its only victory thus far this year. The Falcons fell 4-0 to Branham, 2-1 to Prospect, 4-2 to Menlo-Atherton and 1-0 to Westmont in other non-league tests, and lost 3-0 to Los Altos and 6-1 to Palo Alto in division play.

The Falcons were to return to league play this week, hoping to break their losing ways. Saratoga was to visit Homestead on Jan. 8 and will host Los Gatos on Jan. 10 before traveling to Monta Vista on Jan. 12. All games begin at 3:30 p.m.