Rewarded for winning El Camino, Eagles return to De Anza Division

By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer

Transfer Lauren Glazebrook has fit in well with her new teammates on the Los Altos High girls soccer team, according to coach Roberto Magellan.

The Los Altos High girls soccer team was clearly out of its element last season when it played in the SCVAL El Camino Division. The Eagles dominated the weak division, winning it without losing a league match.

This year Los Altos is back where it belongs - playing in the challenging SCVAL De Anza Division. The Eagles were a mainstay in the De Anza until a disastrous 2001-02 campaign. A rash of injuries led to a last-place finish and a demotion to the El Camino.

Los Altos has no intention of dropping again, according to head coach Roberto Magellan, who expects his team to be among the De Anza’s best.

Although the Eagles lost four all-leaguers to graduation, they return 12 solid players and have added a few new ones.

“I think we have more talent this year,” Magellan said. “We have more players now who can play our possession style of soccer.”

Magellan has so much talent, he said, that one of his biggest dilemmas is filling out the lineup card.

“There’s always the issue of who to start,” said the team’s second-year coach, who commonly uses 16 of his 18 players in a match. “There’s no drop off when we make substitutions; they’re all good players.”

Joan Danver is among the best of them. The senior is one of three players whose position is listed as “all-around” on the Eagles’ roster. Danver, voted the El Camino’s Most Valuable Utility Player last season, is adept at playing offense and defense.

“She’s a top-quality player,” Magellan said of Danver, a team captain. “She can change the situation of the game. Even from sweeper, she can take shots at goal.”

Danver anchors a defense that also includes three returners in seniors Sara Bird and Stephanie Yung, plus sophomore Michele Baer.

Magellan rotates two players at goalkeeper: sophomore Erikka De Silva and junior Erin Maulhardt. Through 11 games, De Silva has posted one shutout and Maulhardt two.

The team’s strongest position is midfield, according to Magellan, who employs a five-midfielder system. The unit includes four all-leaguers - Toni Chau, Jacquie D’Innocenti, Meghan McKinsey and Alicia Incerpi - along with Lauren Glazebrook, a transfer from St. Francis High.

Chau, a senior co-captain, has been nicknamed “The Admiral” by Magellan.

“She is very quiet and the type that listens more,” said the coach, whose father was an admiral in the Brazilian navy.

Glazebrook, a sophomore, has shown leadership skills as well, Magellan said, and has fit in well with her new teammates.

Sophomore D’Innocenti, also listed as “all-around” on the roster, has impressed the coach with her stout play on the left side.

Juniors McKinsey and Incerpi provide scoring punch. McKinsey tallied both goals in the Eagles’ 2-0 league-opening win over Palo Alto Dec. 16.

Hillary Paine, a sophomore, had an assist in that game and is helping Los Altos as a midfielder and defender.

Magellan has also been pleased with the versatile Sarah Nolet, the other player labeled as “all-around.” The freshman, the team’s tallest player at 5-foot-9, has scored two goals this season.

The Eagles’ other freshman, Lauren Machado, is emerging as a stellar midfielder. Magellan said she has great potential as a goal scorer and would like her to take more shots. “She just needs more confidence,” he said.

At forward, Los Altos has senior Jessica Whalen, an all-league selection last year, and sophomore Marcella Mission, who scored four goals in a game early this season.

Magellan hopes all this talent equals a division title - or at least a Central Coast Section playoff berth - but he knows this will be difficult. The division promises to be formidable - as always.

“There will be no easy games like last year,” said Magellan, who is especially wary of Gunn, Palo Alto and Los Gatos.

He doesn’t expect these teams to be overly concerned about Los Altos, though, since it is the new team in the division. In fact, he’s counting on being underestimated.

“We’d like to keep it that way - to keep people thinking we’re not going to be a threat,” said Magellan, whose team is 5-5 overall.

The Eagles’ next game is scheduled for Jan. 6, when they host Cupertino at 3:30 p.m. in divisional play.