The Cupertino Courier

Sports

'Tino, MV girls soccer teams start strong

By Mike Barnhart

Entering his first season as head coach of the Cupertino girls soccer team, Kent Fogleman had high hopes, but he didn't know what to expect.

Meanwhile, across town at Monta Vista, fourth-year coach Alan Kute hoped that the 11 returning players from last year's Central Coast Section Division I runner-up team would work together well enough to reach high expectations.

As of Jan. 22, three months after their first practices and halfway through the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League schedule, both teams remained unbeaten in league play, very much in contention for division championships and berths in the CCS playoffs.

Cupertino entered this week with a record of 4-0-3 in El Camino Division play and 8-3-4 overall. Monta Vista had a similar ledger, 4-0-2 in the De Anza Division and 8-3-2 overall.

Pioneers share first

The Pioneers went on the road last week, scoring a 1-1 tie at Lynbrook and a 2-1 victory at Santa Clara, earning four more points in the El Camino standings and a share of first place with Wilcox (5-3-0, 15 points).

"With five games to go we are neck and neck with Wilcox and Saratoga in the standings," Fogleman noted. "How we do against them may decide who wins the division."

Cupertino and Wilcox were set to square off on the Pioneers' turf on Jan. 23, 3:30 p.m. In the team's first meeting at Wilcox, the Pioneers won 4-1. Saratoga (4-1-2, 14), which began this week one point out of first place, will visit Cupertino on Jan. 30.

Milpitas (4-3-1, 13) entered the week in fourth place, followed by Lynbrook (2-2-4, 10), Santa Clara (1-3-4, 7) and Fremont (0-8, 0).

Junior forwards Cici Kobinski (13 goals, two assists) and Christine Adame (11 goals, six assists), have led Cupertino's explosive offense, which has produced 39 goals in 15 games, including 16 in division play.

"Kobinski has remarkable ball skills and blazing speed," Fogleman said. "Adame also is fast and very good at crossing the ball from her right forward position."

Because Kobinski is so fast, many of her goals have been unassisted, including one in the Pioneers' win at Santa Clara on Jan. 18. It was her eighth goal in league play.

Junior midfielder Danielle Matthews' penalty kick proved to be the decisive score at Santa Clara. It was the eighth goal of the season for Matthews, the Pioneers' third leading scorer.

Sophomore midfielder Nisha Mair scored her fifth goal of the year during the team's 1-1 defensive struggle at Lynbrook. Kobinski had an assist on the play.

Senior Libby Messaros and freshman Marissa Garcia also have played well as midfielders.

Cupertino's stout defense has allowed just 20 goals, only five in division games. Anchored by senior goalkeeper Erin Hammond (five shutouts), the defense includes Ally Hammond, Erin's twin sister, sophomore sweeper Katie Boyle, and juniors Natalie Cannon and Aubrey Dolera.

The Pioneers' 4-3-1 record in non-league play included losses to highly ranked Monta Vista and Burlingame.

Mats' goal: top 3

Monta Vista graduated eight players from its excellent 2007 team, including top scorers Jessica Lau (now playing for Northwestern University) and Jennifer Kute (De Anza College) and ace defender Alex Gatley, but they have done just fine in the very tough De Anza Division.

"We're playing better and better as the girls are gelling and finding their roles," coach Kute said, following home shutout wins last week over Palo Alto and Gunn.

Sophomore forward Michelle Pao scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Paly, getting an assist on each one from freshman Sandra Ley. Two days later against Gunn, Ley tallied the game's only goal, after taking a pass from freshman Cheryl Tom.

The wins over the Palo Alto schools left the Matadors one point shy of division leader Los Altos (5-2-0, 15), the team that scored a double-overtime win over the Mats in last year's CCS finale, and four ahead of four other teams. Homestead, Palo Alto and Los Gatos all began play this week tied at 3-3-1. Mountain View was 3-4-1, while Gunn (1-7-0) trailed the pack.

"Everyone can beat anyone on any given day in our league," Kute noted. "Our goal this year is to make CCS by coming in the top three."

Two of the Matadors' remaining games are against Los Altos, including a home game on Jan. 25, but first they must play at Homestead on Jan. 23, 3:30 p.m. The Mustangs, who gained a share of third place with wins over Mountain View and Gunn last week, battled the Matadors to a scoreless tie in their first meeting.

Cheryl Kute (eight goals, two assists) and Pao (seven goals, three assists), good players as freshmen, have continued the charge this year, combining for 15 of the team's 24 goals.

Ley, one of four freshmen, joined the line-up this month after injuries had kept her off of the field. She made an immediate impact with two goals and three assists in her first four games.

Junior Shandon Rovetta, who broke her orbital bone on a header during last year's title game, and senior Rosa Ahn have been the team's defensive leaders.

"Shandon is tough, strong, has great timing, very tough to beat and one of the top players in our league," coach Kute said. "Rosa is our workhorse and plays with a lot of energy."

Senior Leah Davis and freshman Zohar Liebermensch also have played well on the back line in front of senior goalies Kendra Roseberry and Tacy Bechtel. Other returning players include talented senior midfielders Kasha Sang and Sarah Trankle and juniors Nitya Simon and Jennifer LeQuieu.

'Tino boys stay alive

A four-goal second half, including two penalty kicks by senior Thorin Duffin and scores by senior Matt Provencher and junior David Coyne, lifted Cupertino to a 4-2 triumph over visiting Mountain View in an El Camino Division boys game on Jan. 18.

Cupertino, the only El Camino team to beat first-place Fremont (6-1-1, 19 points), stayed alive in the El Camino race with the comeback win. The Pioneers (4-2-1, 13) finished the week behind Fremont and Mountain View (5-3-0, 15), but can tighten the standings with a home win over the Firebirds on Jan. 25, 3:30 p.m.

Monta Vista (4-2-0, 12) split 1-0 games, beating Wilcox with junior Nadav Caspi's goal, but losing at Fremont. Homestead (3-4-1, 10) stayed ahead of Lynbrook (2-4-1, 7) by knocking off the Vikings, 5-1.