The Palo Alto High School girls’ lacrosse team, with a non-league record of 1-0 and a league  is coming off a 12-2 win against Burlingame High School and looking to defend the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championship title this coming season.

“To accomplish this [winning SCVAL] I teach the girls we need measurable goals that will get us there,”Viking coach Jamie Nesbitt said. “Holding opponents to under eight goals is always top of the list, along with winning more than 50 percent of the draws.”

The team finished last year with an overall record of 13-4 and league score record of 12-1. The team only lost six seniors and has most of the starters returning.

“We have a great team this year and a couple new really talented underclassmen,” junior midfielder Maya Benatar said. “I’m excited to see how they add to the team.”

The Vikings also hope to beat cross-town rival Gunn High School twice this year after going 1-1 last season.

“Gunn beat us once last year and I do think they will be the most difficult to beat,” Benatar said. “We are really hoping to come out on top against them.”

The Vikings will play their first league game against Menlo-Atherton High School at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Menlo-Atherton.