With just two weeks left in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League soccer season, the current De Anza Division leaders are teams that achieved success in the El Camino Division last winter.

Homestead's boys and Monta Vista's girls have gone right to the head of the class in 2006, and they are working hard to maintain their first-place perches.

Despite a 1-0 loss to Mountain View last week, the Mustangs entered their Jan. 31 game at Santa Clara in first place with a 6-2 mark and 18 points with four games to go. With the recent win, Mountain View (5-2-3, 18) moved into a first-place tie.

"The boys work hard and take a lot of pride in their work," praised veteran coach Luis Comesana, whose team placed a close second to Cupertino in the El Camino Division last year. "The team deserves a lot of credit for turning things around."

Homestead, which features three sophomores and three freshmen among its starters, started slowly, going just 1-5-1 in non-league play before getting on a roll in league play.

Senior goalie Matt Reed has led Homestead's defense, along with senior defender Matt Nelson and sophomore sweeper Alex Plancarte. Sophomores Julio Castillo and Amaer Efemgovich and junior Brian Labbadie have played a strong midfield. Freshman forward Guillermo Plancarte, Alex's brother, scored both of the Mustangs' goals in a 2-1 win over Monta Vista on Jan. 19.

Comesana hopes the team can overcome a recent flu bug and get strong for the remainder of the schedule. After a game at Santa Clara on Jan. 31, the Mustangs return home to host Cupertino on Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m.

In the El Camino Division, Fremont recently improved its record to 2-3-3 with a 1-0 win over visiting Saratoga. A pair of sophomores combined for the game's only goal, Cesar Molina assisting Jairo Magana in the first half.

Although the Firebirds suffered a setback when returning all-leaguer Juan Arce decided not to play soccer during his senior year, senior captains Adrian Bustamante and Jose Monje have provided good leadership, said first-year coach Jose Garcia. Other top players have been sophomores Luis Ordaz and Juan Carlos Magallon.

In De Anza girls play, Homestead (4-5, 6-8-3 overall) scored four second-half goals during a 5-0 win over Gunn on Jan. 23. Chelsea Maniscalco scored the only first-half goal, with an assist from Nicole Caballero, before the Mustangs erupted in the second period.

Diana Charrier scored one goal and assisted on two by Michelle Grabau. Caballero also found the back of the net. Megan Foeresch was the goalkeeper in the shutout.

Fremont third at Overfelt

Fremont's wrestling team went to the 41st Overfelt Classic on Jan. 21 looking to defend the championship it won in 2005, but Gilroy had other plans.

The Mustangs won six individual titles and ran away with first place. Fremont provided a strong showing, claiming third place in the event. Fremont coach Bobby Soto had several Firebirds wrestling up a weight class to gain tougher competition.

Moving up a class did not phase senior Filip Novachkov, who captured the 127-pound title. Tommy Staats did not move up, but was a winner at 191 pounds, beating out Matt Fultcher of Wilcox in the finals.

Senior Greg Crane was second at 173 and junior Boris Novachkov was second at 114. Senior Kurtis Ogasawara was fourth at 147 and sophomore Jimmy Staats was fifth at 277.

Five days later, the Firebirds kept their unbeaten record in SCVAL De Anza Division dual meets alive with a 51-21 win over visiting Wilcox.

B. Novachkov (114), junior Mark Scandalis (132), Ogasawara (147) and J. Staats (277) all pinned their opponents. Crane won by technical fall at 173 and Michael Alpers claimed a 16-4 major decision at 164.