The Palo Alto girls’ varsity soccer team clinched its third consecutive SCVAL De Anza Division championship with a 0-0 tie against Saratoga Friday at Paly.
The Vikings (8-1-1, 12-2-3) put themselves in position for their title behind explosive forward Kat Stolpa, who is headed to USC on a soccer scholarship next year.

The Vikings crushed Cupertino 8-0 last Tuesday, setting up a showdown on the road against the Los Gatos Wildcats. Stolpa was good for four goals at Cupertino.

With first place on the line, things started off shaky for the Vikings when the team’s streak of eight games without surrendering a goal ended as Los Gatos tied the game in the first half, 1-1. "We actually did not mention the scoreless streak too much," Palo Alto coach Jeff van Gastel said. "Before every game and at halftime, I always tell the girls to take pride in their defense, and the less shots the other team has, the less likely they are to score."

Junior defender Lisa Johnson put the Vikings on top for good, netting a free kick from 25 yards out. Johnson then teamed up with fellow defenders junior Leanna Racine and Tessa Buchin, and sophomore Kathy Nolan to hold fast against a desperate Wildcat attack as time expired.

"We have been averaging 20 shots a game, whereas opponents have been averaging five," van Gastel said. "With stats like that in soccer, you are going to win 90 percent of the time." The Vikings added to their undefeated streak by defeating arch rival Gunn 7-0 yesterday at Gunn high school.

The Vikings look to continue such efforts as they carry their league title into Central Coast Section playoffs. They will find out their first round schedule later this week.