Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Monarchs, Lancers are cruising into CCS field hockey semifinals

By Mike Barnhart

Neither Archbishop Mitty nor St. Francis--the reigning Central Coast Section co-champions in field hockey--wasted any time during their quarterfinal games of the CCS playoffs on Nov. 11 at St. Francis. Displaying the stick-handling skills, speed and strength that had propelled them to the top of the section's top-ranked league this fall, both teams quickly seized control of their games and moved on to the semifinals.

Mitty, the highest seed after rolling to a 9-0-3 record in the Blossom Valley Athletic League's Mt. Hamilton Division, scored two goals in the first half of its 4-0 triumph over No. 8 Willow Glen, the West Valley Division champion.

The No. 2-seeded Lancers, who finished second in the Mt. Hamilton Division at 8-1-3, did all of their scoring in the first half of a 3-0 win over Santa Teresa Division runner-up Live Oak, the No. 7 seed.

For the other two semifinalists, No. 4 Leland (11-5 overall) and sixth seed Los Gatos (11-5-2), getting through the quarterfinals was hard work. In fact, both teams had to work overtime to extend their seasons.

Leland and No. 5 Gilroy, the Mission Trail Athletic League winner, were scoreless at the end of regulation before junior Claire Thompson broke the scoring ice for the Chargers and eliminated the Mustangs (14-5-1).

Los Gatos claimed a 2-1 decision over No. 3 Los Altos, the Santa Teresa winner, when junior Courtney Mardis banged in her second goal of the game during the 7-on-7, sudden-victory extra session.

Semifinal matches, set to be played on Nov. 14, featured St. Francis colliding with Los Gatos and Mitty tangling with Leland. The survivors will meet for the section championship on Nov. 18, 11 a.m., at St. Francis.

Mitty, looking to reach the title game for the third year in a row, cleared its first hurdle by blanking Willow Glen. Katie Fleury, who recently signed a letter-of-intent to attend Notre Dame on a softball scholarship, put the Monarchs on the scoreboard first. Junior Katie Atwell made it 2-0 on an assist from senior Jennifer Maez. In the second half, junior Claire Dougherty scored an unassisted goal, after setting up a score by junior Jennifer Meadows.

Willow Glen (13-2-2) reached the quarterfinal round with a 1-0 triumph over neighborhood rival Presentation, the No. 9 seed. Taylor Lundquist's second-half goal ousted the visiting Panthers (5-7-3).

Playing their final game for the Rams were seniors Jennifer Uribe, Aracely Esquerra, Rebekah Cremer, Kathryn Cremer, Nicole Faraj-Perry and Nadia Conroy.

Presentation seniors were Brittney Markey, Bridget Moran, Melanie Chase, Vanessa Quindiagan-Tran and Sarah Micelli.