By Pete Borello
High School Soccer Digest
This was supposed to be the year the Los Altos High girls soccer team challenged the likes of St. Francis, Homestead and Gunn for the SCVAL De Anza Division title.
After all, the Eagles were expected to return all but one starter from last year’s fourth-place squad, which barely missed the playoffs.
Prior to the season, however, coach Jack Rosenhan received some disappointing news. Team MVP Bonnie Chen would have to miss the season with a knee injury, MVP runner-up Jeanette Hayman’s severely sprained ankle would keep her off the field until at least January and starters Laura Perry and Anne Fish had chosen not to play.
It’s almost enough to make a grown coach cry.
But not Rosenhan. While the coach admits it will be tougher for his Eagles to challenge for the league crown, he is still optimistic about this season.
“We still expect to finish in the top three in league and qualify for (the Central Coast Section playoffs),” he said. “Last year we missed CCS by two points, and this year we want to make sure we get those two points.”
Los Altos got off to a good start in this quest, winning five of its initial six games.
The league season hasn’t been as kind to the Eagles, though, as they opened De Anza Division play with losses to Gunn and Homestead last week. Another tough game loomed Tuesday against defending division champ St. Francis.
“We’re getting some good tests early,” Rosenhan said. “But we’re not too worried about starting 0-2 because there’s still plenty of time.”
And despite the injuries and defections, Los Altos still seems to have ample talent.
The Eagles start a pair of freshmen who Rosenhan said are already making names for themselves. Striker Alicia Incerpi is the team’s leading goal scorer with 12, and the coach calls defender/midfielder Meghan McKinsey “a tenacious player.”
Junior striker Katy Jones is second on the squad with six goals. Midfielders Minh Dang and Toni Chau have impressed the coach with their intensity.
The stingy defense is led by stopper Joan Danver, fullback Stephanie Yung, and what Rosenhan calls the league’s best goalkeeper tandem in Lindsey Parodi and Lindsey Fish.
LAHS boys post shutout
Los Altos advanced to the semifinals of the Homestead Christmas Cup with a 2-0 win over Sequoia on Saturday. Trevor Tyler and David Madrigal scored for the Eagles (9-1).
