By Pete Borello
Los Altos High boys and girls teams both record 3-0 victories
High School Soccer Digest
sked what he expects from his boys soccer team this season, St. Francis High coach Mark Demling said: “We’re not going to beat Brazil.”
While the Lancers may not be ready to beat an international powerhouse, Demling does expect them to improve over last year. Considering St. Francis is coming off a season in which it won only four games and finished at the bottom of the West Catholic Athletic League, that shouldn’t be all that hard.
“I’d be happy to win over four games,” Demling said. “But I think we’re capable of a 12-8 record, and if we can do that, I’d be ecstatic.”
To reach this lofty goal, Demling said his team must gain confidence, among other things.
“They have to believe in themselves, play with more intensity and really learn the team concept,” he said.
Two players who have heeded Demling’s advice are freshmen. As a result, both Ben Whalen (striker) and Michael Keohane (left midfield) are starting.
“I’m really happy with their play,” the second-year coach said. “They’re real coachable.”
The Lancers’ most skillful players, according to Demling, may be seniors Kyle Naes (striker) and Kris Zanotto (center halfback).
After missing St. Francis’ initial three games with an ankle injury, Naes made his presence known in his first game of the season. He scored two goals Dec. 4 to help the Lancers to a 3-1 win over host Mountain View.
St. Francis’ other goal came courtesy of Kyle Kaveny. The junior, an attacking midfielder, enters this week as the team’s leading scorer.
Defensively, the Lancers are led by another junior: Andrew Donecho. The fullback/midfielder has been playing varsity since his freshman year.
“He does a lot of running and is a high-energy player,” Demling said.
In goal is Andrew Hamer, whose 2000-01 season ended prematurely when he broke his leg for the third time. Demling said the senior was playing well prior to the injury, but this season he has been “a little tentative and not aggressive.”
Many of the other positions are still up for grabs, as the coach admits he’s still experimenting with lineups and trying players at different positions.
But with 23 players on the roster - 12 of them seniors - Demling said not all the players will be happy with their playing time.
“I tell them it’s going to take all 23 guys to win,” he said. “If you’re only on the field for 10 minutes, it better be the best 10 minutes of your life.”
St. Francis followed the win over Mountain View with a pair of 1-all ties against Woodside and Berkeley over the weekend. The Lancers goals’ came from Naes and Adam Wegener, respectively.
St. Francis (2-3-2), which opened WCAL play at rival Bellarmine Tuesday, hosts Serra at 3:15 p.m., Thursday.
In other local boys soccer action last week, Los Altos won all three of its games to remain undefeated (7-0).
The Eagles didn’t surrender a goal all week, blanking Menlo 3-0 Dec. 3, Prospect 2-0 Dec. 5 and Woodside 3-0 Saturday.
Senior David Madrigal tallied a goal against both Menlo and Woodside.
Girls soccer
Los Altos shut out visiting Overfelt 3-0 Dec. 4 behind goals from Katy Jones, Alicia Incerpi and Joan Danver.
Jones also had an assist in the win, which raised the Eagles record to 5-0-1.
Santa Teresa stunned Central Coast Section power St. Francis 2-1 Dec. 4 in the championship game of the Palo Alto Tournament.
Alexandria Bezdikian scored for the Lancers (3-1).
Mountain View won its first game of the season Dec. 5, edging St. Ignatius 3-2.
Scorers from the host Spartans included Kerry Quistad and Dawn Maxey.
Pinewood clipped Valley Christian-Dublin 1-0 Friday in the Private Schools Athletic League opener for both teams.
The host Panthers (1-4 overall) received their lone goal from Kyla Rogind.
