Cambrian Resident

Sports

Leigh soccer teams sit atop the standings

By Mike Barnhart

The winter holidays should have been enjoyable for the Leigh High School soccer teams. After all, Michele Kennedy's girls and Matt Schembri's boys jumped out to strong starts this season and went into the break resting in first place.

Leigh's girls opened the season with an eight-game winning streak. They beat five non-league opponents and three Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division foes by a combined score of 19-1. In fact, Los Gatos was the only team that dented Leigh's defense, until division rival Pioneer upended the Longhorns 2-0 on Dec. 18.

Two days later Leigh bounced back to beat Leland 1-0, the team's eighth shutout in 10 games. The Longhorns' fine division record of 4-1 gave them an early, two-point lead in the standings over Pioneer and Santa Teresa, who shared second place with 3-1-1 records. With an outstanding overall record of 9-1, the Longhorns already equaled the victory total of last season's team that finished 10-2-7.

Senior Angela Santoro, Junior of the Year in the Mt. Hamilton Division last winter, is a defensive leader for Leigh. The Longhorns have two excellent goalkeepers, senior Meghan Maiwald and junior Maddie Fox, all-league second team selections in 2007. Other defenders on the roster include senior Megan Tyrell, juniors Kelsey Holtzinger, Erica Burks and Nicole Yankey and sophomore Emily Tregoning.

More offensive firepower has been evident this season with 20 goals in the first 10 games. Several players have contributed to goal production, including senior forward Marisa Dunaway, junior midfielder Lacey Atkinson and sophomore mid Allison Dugan. Dunaway's second-half penalty kick allowed the Longhorns to open the Mt. Hamilton season with a 1-0 win over defending champ Santa Teresa, and Atkinson delivered the team's lone goal against Del Mar.

Joining Dunaway on the forward line have been senior Kelsey Wells and juniors Caroline Rencken and Stephanie Bloom. Among the midfielders helping generate more offense for Leigh this season have been seniors Gina Bottarini and Kiki Arrasmith, junior Emily Trudeau and sophomore April Stefanik.

The Longhorns closed out the first round of division play this week with road games at Piedmont Hills and Evergreen Valley. They hope to still be in first place when the return home on Jan. 15, 3:15 p.m., for a rematch with Santa Teresa. After hosting the Saints, Leigh plays at Branham, Jan. 17, 3:15 p.m.

After going unbeaten in non-league play, 5-0-1 with five shutouts, Branham struggled to break into the win column during its five Mt. Hamilton matches.

A 1-1 tie with Leland produced the Bruins' only point thus far. Two of Branham's five seniors combined to score the goal against Leland. Michelle Haughey's shot found the net, after a pass from Nicole Peck. Kandice Harmon, Stacie Miller and Stephanie Gongora are the other seniors on coach Ron Smare's roster.

Since sophomore Shelby Salvacion and Haughey had two goals apiece in a 4-0 win over Wilcox back on Dec. 3, the Bruins have scored just two goals in five division games. They were looking to improve upon an 0-4-1 record this week against Del Mar and Pioneer, before starting the second round of division play at Leland, Jan. 15, 3:15 p.m.

Boys soccer

Leigh's boys, who tied for fifth in the Mt. Hamilton Division last season with a 5-7-2 record, started the season with an overall mark of 8-2-1. They won their first four games in division play this season and shared first place at 4-1 with Overfelt.

Branham (3-1-1, 5-2-2 overall) ended the Longhorns' win streak with a 2-1 decision on Dec. 21. Junior midfielder David Pitzen scored both of Branham's goals, cashing in assists by senior Nick Price, junior Nic Ryan and freshman Andy Larson. Goalie Chris Duke made five saves for the Bruins, who were promoted to the Mt. Hamilton Division after winning the Santa Teresa championship last year.

Leigh was coming off a 4-1 victory at Live Oak in Morgan Hill. Sophomore Steven Shiokari, juniors Erik Piedad and Shaun Kaefer and freshman Trevor Pardula scored goals for the Longhorns. Kaefer also had two assists and senior Walter Santillan had one.

Colby Roberts, the Mt. Hamilton Division's Sophomore of the Year last season, is one of a dozen juniors on the Leigh roster.

After resuming division play at Oak Grove, Leigh was to host Leland on Jan. 11 and Mt. Pleasant on Jan. 16, both matches at 3:15 p.m. Meanwhile, Branham's next home game is set for Jan. 18 against Live Oak, 3:15 p.m.

Senior Kevin Faridi and junior Matt Kastner were Branham's top scorers during the first 10 games. Faridi tallied six goals and two assists, while Kastner scored four goals and four assists. Jubenny Gonzalez, Shane Hovorka, Larson, Pitzen and Sean Baxter all had two goals apiece for the Bruins during the first month of the season.