Willow Glen Resident

Sports

By Dick Sparrer

Mani Hernandez has been around the sport of soccer long enough to know when he sees a good thing--and when he sees his Presentation High School girls soccer team in action, that's just what he sees.

The veteran high school soccer coach figures his Panthers should contend for league and Central Coast Section titles this fall, and they're off to a good start with only three losses in their first 10 games and two wins in three tries in the West Catholic Athletic League.

"This is a young team, yet they play solid defense," said Hernandez of his squad. "There's good chemistry among the players and it's a good passing team with very fast counter attacks."

Leading the effort for the Panthers this winter are comeback all-leaguers Shelby Linerud, Alli Haupt, Paola Cisneros and Jaclyn Davey.

Linerud, the center fullback, and Haupt, a center back, were both picked to the all-league second team in the WCAL a year ago and midfielders Cisneros and Davey earned honorable mention recognition.

Joining the four seniors will be newcomers Alyssa Boddie, a junior, and Ashley DeMello, a sophomore, along with talented freshmen Brittney Wright and Crystal Shaffey.

"[Wright] could be the fastest player in the league," said Hernandez. He added that Shaffey was an under-15 national pool player.

The Panthers, who last won a league title in 2003, finished third in the WCAL a year ago and the coach expects his club will manage a top three finish again this season. Beyond that, he feels that this team should contend for the league and CCS Division II championships.

The Panthers lost a tough 4-0 decision to St. Francis before Christmas, but came back to beat Valley Christian 2-1 and Sacred Heart Prep 3-0 in league games.

They opened the year with a 4-1 win over Los Gatos and fought Carlmont to a scoreless tied before losing 3-1 to Mountain View. They fought back to tie Pioneer 1-1, blank Gilroy 5-0 and crush Pinewood 9-0 before losing to the Lancers.

The Panthers, who were to host Sacred Heart Cathedral on Jan. 9, will face St. Francis again this week when they entertain the Lancers on Jan. 11, 3:15 p.m. Notre Dame-Belmont visits Presentation on Jan. 16, 3:15 p.m.