With the departure of 12 senior players since last year, the girls varsity soccer team has been pushing to improve and account for the loss. Tryouts began on Monday, November 10 with a “great turnout,” according to coach Erin Montoya.

Only seven returning members will be able to play this season, including seniors Stephanie Baer, Kelsey Mulcahy and Kellie Welch, juniors Katie Crum, Noorin Dorosti and Taylor Smith and sophomore Chloe Langston.

Most of the seniors who left were starting players last year. Their absence will allow room for a brand new starting lineup this season.

“I have …a lot of space for new bodies,” Montoya said. “I think the returning players are looking forward to the challenge. I know I am.”

“We’re going to have a lot of players that are going to need to fill some pretty big shoes from last year,” Katie said. “A lot of players are going to need to step up and take it to the next level.”

This year, the team is alive and kicking with fresh players and hope, intent on winning the championships at CCS finals once again after a victory in 2007. Despite the pressure and challenge looming before them, the girls have their eyes set on qualifying for CCS again this year.

“[It’s] going to be more of a building year this year, but I think it’ll be fun,” Katie said.

The official roster was posted on Friday, November 23. The team consists of 23 girls, including four freshmen: Hannah Lauterbach, Alejandra Maldonado, Meg Nichols and Sasha Pchnitzhnikova.

“I just want to make myself better,” Alejandra said.

Alejandra has played goalie for two years. She will be this season’s only goalkeeper due to the fact that sophomore Morgan Aozasa is out with an injury.
Montoya hopes that the players will continue to stay healthy, as the team is already short four players due to various injuries. Among these is junior Adi Yogev, who was last year’s leading goal scorer in the league, and is out for the season with a knee injury. Despite having to remain on the sidelines, Adi still attends practices and observes the team.

“[The team is] really different,” Adi said. “We’ll see. So far it’s been good.”
Chloe agrees and says that the team is “getting there” with teamwork. She can already feel that there is “good team chemistry” and notes that everyone on the team is “really, really nice.”

The team’s first pre-season game was on Monday, December 1 in the Palo Alto Varsity Winter Classic. Competing alongside Woodside Priory and Palo Alto High School the girls won their first game against Woodside Priory and won another against Latino College Prep Academey. They lost one match against Palo Alto High School and went to the consolation game, winning against Sacred Heart Prepatory.

Both the incoming and returning players have been working hard nonstop, striving to make the team as strong as it can be. With their faithful contribution, the girls are eager to have a rewarding season.