The sun was slowly dipping below the trees at the new Mayfield soccer complex when the referee blew the final whistle mercifully ending the carnage of the Lady Vikes’ 5-0 shutout of visiting Gilroy in a preseason game on Thursday.
The Mustangs were unable to stop the Viking offense, powered by the outstanding performance of three underclassmen and an impregnable Viking defense.
Varsity Coach Ernesto Cruz is confident in this year’s team and their chances for success.
"Last year we finished sixth in our district," Cruz said. "This season we have a lot young players with much talent and good skill sets."
Seeded sixth in last year’s CCS playoffs, Palo Alto (7-9-2) had a disappointing early exit after a 1-0 upset from 11-seeded St. Ignatius in the first round. Cruz says he expects this year’s team to do much better.
Freshman striker Kelly Jenks had a hat trick in the preseason game, scoring twice in the first half and once in the second.
"I felt like I played well," Jenks said. "We [the team] really put it together."
"I just love the way the freshmen are playing right now," Cruz said.
Palo Alto took the momentum early in the contest, starting with a swift offensive drive. Senior midfielder Sarah Flamm passed to Jenks just outside the 18-yard box, who buried it in the back of the net. The Vikings never looked back.
Jenks struck again a few minutes later with an unassisted shot coming off a rebound. Setting up a good distance from the 18-yard box, Jenks chipped her second goal in over Gilroy keeper Sara Hugo to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
"We started out pretty sloppy, but tuned up quickly," Cruz said.
The Mustangs mustered only a few offensive drives in the first half, but were mostly shut down by the superb defense of the Paly back line. Sophomore Jackie McElaney consistently cleared the ball out of the Viking half, keeping the Mustangs on their heels at all times.
When the half ended, the Vikings were already sitting pretty with a considerable lead, but there was more to come. The second half held only worse news for the Mustangs. Jenks sealed her hat trick as she kept up the offensive play with her third goal. assisted by senior Nikki Remmel. Sophomore midfielder Sydney Lundgren scored the Vikings’ fourth goal later in the game with a chip over the outstretched arms of a frustrated Hugo.
To add insult to injury, freshman Maeve Stewart put a fifth goal on the board. After a counterattack stemming deep in the Viking defense, Lundgren set up the young striker, who drilled the ball into the back of the net.
When asked about the chemistry of a team with such a wide range of ages, Stewart said that they are getting along well.
"It was a little awkward at first, but now that we’ve gotten to know each other, things are running much more smoothly," Stewart said.
Throughout the second half, the Viking defense kept veteran senior keeper Christy Gauthier safe in the back. On one rare offensive occasion late in the second half, the Mustangs drove the ball down the field and a blocked shot resulted in a corner kick. The corner was driven deep into the box, but McElaney sent it out with a leaping header. When the final whistle blew, the Lady Vikes waltzed off the field with the 5-0 shutout.
"Our defense really held up well," said Cruz. "It will definitely be one of our strengths [heading into the season]."
The girls’ site for all home games had been changed this year from Paly to the nearby and recently built Mayfield soccer complex; fully equipped with two turf fields and lights.
The Girls’ JV team also defeated Gilroy 5-0 earlier in the afternoon, with a hat trick from freshman Hannah Staiger and a goal apiece from freshmen Kaitlyn Patterson and Kacie Kiger.
The varsity Vikes kick off their regular season with a home tournament against the Salinas Cowboys at Mayfield at 3:30p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28th.