The Paly varsity girls’ soccer team got its season back on track with a 3-0 win over the Aragon Dons, Dec. 23 at Paly.
The first half was scoreless as Paly was shut down on numerous scoring opportunities. Lady Vike defenders tried to send balls over the top of Aragon’s backline to senior forward standout Kat Stolpa, but were without success. Stolpa is headed to USC on a soccer scholarship next year.
The Dons also had difficulty capitalizing on early chances. Throughout the first half, the Paly defense gave up scoring opportunities but Aragon failed to put them away.
Paly got on the scoreboard in the second half when Stolpa netted a goal off her left foot off a cross by junior defender Tessa Buchin. The Lady Vikes had trouble finding a passing rhythm on the slippery grass and muddy field as the teams exchanged scoring opportunities.
"Last year’s team played through a lot of adversity, but still survived to get results. They dug in last year, with a never-say-die attitude. This year, the attitude has changed and we are giving away easy goals, and just not scoring,” head coach Jeff van Gastel said.
Paly struck again when Ellie Burnstein shot to the right side of the goal off a cross from junior defender Lindsey Stirrat. Just before time expired, Stolpa put another one away on a breakaway after she got behind the Aragon defense. Aragon threatened on a free kick in the final minutes but could not capitalize on the Lady Vikes’ mistake.
With nine returning starters from last year’s De Anza Division championship team that went 17-1-4, the girls are looking to surpass their CCS semifinals mark from last year. Despite the players’ ambitions, Paly (3-2-2) has gotten off to a slow start.
"With nine starters returning, you would think this team would be unbeatable, especially with the league having a down year with many seniors graduating out last year,” van Gastel said. “However, for whatever reason, we have not put it together."
The girls have shown flashes of their potential in an 8-0 nonleague win at Fremont where Stolpa scored 6 goals, and a 1-1 tie at Aptos. However, a 2-0 loss to Los Altos halted their momentum.
The Vikings still look to their veterans for leadership, especially the six returning players who earned all-league honors last season. Four of such players are the four junior starting defenders, Leanna Racine, Lisa Johnson, Stirrat, and Buchin.
Other key starters include Stolpa, and junior goalkeeper Perris Aufmuth. At the midfield, despite the strength of sophomores Kathy Nolan and Robin Chang, the girls have suffered from the loss of junior midfielder Natalie Ferraiolo, who tore her MCL and will not return until mid-January.
"Hopefully, though, with the talent that we have, we will put it together and defend our league championship. Right now, we are just looking to score some goals," van Gastel said.