The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Los Altos is the girls soccer title favorite

By Mike Barnhart

Although Monta Vista has 13 girls returning from last year's team that won the title in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, including Most Valuable Player Jessica Lau and six other all-leaguers, the Matadors will have their hands full trying to repeat the feat this year.

"Los Altos is the favorite," said Monta Vista coach Alan Kute about the defending El Camino champion Eagles, who were promoted to the De Anza circuit after last season, "but I think they will be challenged by many teams in our league. Our league has done quite well in pre-season, so I think we all are confident we can beat anyone we play."

Competing in what is one of the elite leagues in the Central Coast Section, Monta Vista and Homestead both play eight of their 12 De Anza Division tilts in January.

After both teams travel for tough road games on Jan. 10, the Matadors at Los Altos and the Mustangs at Palo Alto, Monta Vista will host Saratoga on Jan. 12 at 3:30 p.m. Homestead will host Los Gatos, while Monta Vista visits Paly on Jan.17. Two days later, the district rivals begin the second round of De Anza play on Homestead's field.

"We have four teams in the top 15 in the recent CCS rankings," Kute noted, "and that does not include Homestead, who tied us and beat (No. 15) Mountain View."

Los Altos was ranked No. 2, behind only St. Francis, after posting a 7-1-2 record in its first 10 games. Palo Alto (6-2-3) was rated No. 6, one spot ahead of Monta Vista (5-2-3 overall and 1-0-1 in division). Homestead started this week 5-2-2 and 1-1-1.

"It's an extremely tough division, the toughest since I started coaching," agreed Homestead coach Marc Gonzales, whose team opened the division schedule with a 1-1 draw at Monta Vista back on Dec. 11.

Homestead, looking to improve upon last year's 5-7, fifth-place finish, is led by two-time all-De Anza Goalie of the Year Megan Foertsch and senior co-captains Michelle Grabau and Nicole Caballero. Grabau, now in her fourth varsity season, was a first team all-league pick in each of the past two seasons.

Three other returning players--Kristina Roome, Taylor Bunka and Melanie Jones--earned all-De Anza second team honors in 2006. First-year players expected to make an impact on the Homestead team are Chivon Crump, Carli Hassbroek and Jill Dodge, according to Gonzales.

Fremont tops Wilcox

Sophomores Alexis Tershay and Hilda Tavera scored goals in Fremont's 2-1 El Camino Division win over Wilcox on Jan. 5. The victory improved the Firebirds' record to 1-1 in division play and 2-4 overall. Wilcox dropped to 0-3 and 2-7-1.

The Firebirds, scheduled to play at Santa Clara on Jan. 10, are looking to improve upon their 2-7-3 El Camino record of last season.

"We would like to convert some of those ties to wins this season," said coach Andrea Neubauer, who takes over the varsity helm after coaching the junior varsity squad last season.

Neubauer is looking for goal production from a trio of sophomore forwards, Tavera, Tania Alvarez and Tershay, who was the El Camino Division's co-Freshman of the Year last season. Another forward is senior Brittney Geer, who returns to the team after a season away.

Leading the way at midfield are senior Natasha Von Salza and sophomore Jamie Mangan, along with senior Christina Jacobs, who transferred from Homestead.

Heather Veitch, a second-team all-league choice in 2006, and Kaitlin Rogers are seniors expected to provide strong defensive play, Neubauer said. Sophomore Kerri Robinson is another key defender and gives the Firebirds a formidable back line in front of senior goalkeeper Izzy Heye, according to the coach. Two other senior defenders are Nicole Ballou and Kristi Shew.

Heye, an all-league performer as a water polo goalie, will strive to protect the nets on the soccer field for the Lady Firebirds this winter. Heye will be replacing a fine goalie in Kendra Roseberry, who transferred to Monta Vista.

Coach Neubauer expects strong contributions this season from freshmen midfielders Charlotte Van Schooten and Kylie Durham and junior defender Jenny Martinez.