With two matches remaining in the regular season, the Christopher High girls’ soccer team is in uncharted territory, controlling its own destiny in regards to a Monterey Bay League-Gabilan title.
The Cougars have gone unbeaten in their last nine matches, including a scoreless draw with reigning champion Salinas. The Cowboys beat Christopher, 4-0, in their first match-up during league play, but a loss and a draw against San Benito has Salinas trailing Christopher by two points, opening the door for the Cougars to win their first Gabilan Division title, and first league title of any kind for girls’ soccer.
“Returning all of our starters from last season, our primary goal was to win league,” said Christopher coach Matt Oetinger. “Our second goal has been to win CCS. We believe we can go toe-to-toe with anyone and get there.”
The Cougars graduated just three seniors from last year’s team that reached the section playoffs, losing to 1-0 eventual Division I co-champion Santa Clara in the first round. None of those seniors were starters, and this year Christopher brought in three freshmen, including keeper Jordan Anaya, who has posted 10 clean sheets in 17 matches so far this year.
“It was huge getting that playoff experience last year, with our youth,” Oetinger added. “We gained a lot of belief and confidence, seeing what Santa Clara did after that match, and knowing how close we were to winning that one.”
Even this season, the Cougars feature just three seniors, and only one starter, center-back Isabel Schween. Despite the youth, Oetinger loaded the non-league schedule, playing ‘A’ level teams such as Notre Dame-Belmont and Homestead, along with BVAL-Santa Teresa leader Live Oak. Those three, plus Salinas, have accounted for Christopher’s only setbacks this season. The success has been in large part to what Oetinger describes as a “lunch pail, go to work” mentality.
Christopher does boast one of the section’s top scorers, junior Aurea Martin, who has 23 goals and eight assists this year. But Oetinger also points to players such as center-midfielders, junior Ally Euchari and sophomore Natalie Smith, and center-back Jackie Sanchez, another junior on the roster.
“Those three are sort of the glue for our team, on and off the field,” Oetinger said. “Their soccer IQ is so high. But we also have a team full of dependable players, even with a player like Aurea (Martin) as a standout among them.”
Christopher has one final hurdle remaining to secure that first league title, next Wednesday against Alvarez. From there, the Cougars will prepare for the Division I playoffs, where they look to make a run towards that second goal they set at the beginning of the year.
No title race drama in WCAL
There may still be a week remaining in the regular season, but the league title is already settled in the West Catholic Athletic League, where Archbishop Mitty reigns supreme.
The Monarchs face Presentation and Valley Christian next week, but own an insurmountable lead over second-place St. Ignatius in the standings, with 22 points to the Wildcats’ 15 points. Presentation sits one point behind SI.
And talk about a signing day bonanza – Mitty saw seven of its seniors from the girls’ soccer team sign letters of intent this week. Leading goal scorers Paris Fox and Hailey Smith signed with Rice and Washington State, respectively. Chloe Cacoyannis (UC Santa Barbara), Sophia Mendoza (Cal Poly), Natalie Meyer (Sonoma State), Hailey Prentice (Saint Mary’s College), and Brianna Robles (Seattle) also signed.
Mountain View inks four commitments
Getting one player signed to play in college is a big deal. Mountain View saw four seniors sign their national letters of intent this week.
Elena Palacios (Hawaii), Bethan Parry (USF), Nicole Bumgarner (Eastern Washington), and Lucy Tang (UC San Diego) all signed on Wednesday. The four seniors have led the Spartans to a 16-1 record right now, including an 8-1 mark in SCVAL-De Anza play, where they lead Palo Alto by two points.
The two teams meet again on February 14, in a match that should decide the title, after Palo Alto won the first meeting.
“Winning is great, but to see your players be able to receive those scholarships and extend their careers as scholarship players in college is one of the ultimate goals as a coach,” said Mountain View coach Ivan Bandov. “You preach that hard work and sacrifice can get you to that next level, and these four players embody that commitment. They have truly put in the work and sacrificed for this to happen.”
