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One year after failing to win a single match in the SCVAL De Anza Division, the Palo Alto boys' soccer team finds itself undefeated in the SCVAL El Camino Division following a 3-1 victory over host Monta Vista on Monday.

The Vikings (2-0, 6-2-1) put up the winning goal in the first half when Chris Meredith took a bouncing pass from Cina Vazir and headed it in at the 16-minute mark.

That came eight minutes after fellow senior Paul Stefanski had given Paly a 1-0 lead with an open, unassisted goal.

Monta Vista came on strong toward the end of the first half with several near scores that were saved by Paly keeper Tony Maharaj, who along with defenders Alex Chin, Preston Kuppe and Kirby Gee had solid defensive games.

The Matadors, however, made it a 2-1 match before halftime when a poorly cleared ball went to Monta Vista's right wing, who placed a shot in the left upper corner over the reach of Maharaj.

Both teams had several opportunities in the second half, but they came up empty. Paly finally got an insurance goal when Fernando Rodriguez cut through the Monta Vista defense and was taken down in the penalty box. Gee converted the penalty kick.

The Vikings have a mid-week bye before visiting Fremont on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

In Belmont, Flint Mitchell's penalty kick in the 51st minute provided the winning goal for Menlo-Atherton in a 2-1 victory over host Carlmont in a PAL Bay Division opener for both teams on Monday.

The Bears (1-0, 4-1-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first half when forward Michael Perez found the right corner of the cage. The Scots (4-2-1) tied the match in the first half as the teams settled for a deadlock at halftime.

Girls' basketball
Menlo School saw its eight-game winning streak end in a 63-50 nonleague loss to host Salesian on Monday in Richmond.

The Knights (9-4) got 14 points and 11 rebounds from Maddy Price while Drew Edelman finished with 12 points and Hannah Paye added eight.

Menlo, which made 17 of 18 free throws but had 10 fewer field goals than Salesian, opens its West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) season on Tuesday at home against Eastside Prep at 8 p.m.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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