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The Menlo School girls' soccer team opened up an eight-point lead over second-place Sacred Heart Prep in the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) following a 1-0 victory over visiting Crystal Springs on Tuesday.

The division-leading Knights improved to 7-0 in league (9-2-4 overall) while Sacred Heart Prep and Priory each had to settle for ties. Menlo has 21 points with second-place SHP well back with 13.

Menlo's lone goal was scored in the 34th minute of the first half by senior Priya Medberry on an nicely executed eight-yard volley. The play began with a cross from sophomore Amber Mallett that was directed on to Medberry by junior Kate Dumanian.

While Menlo outshot Crystal, 15-0, and controlled the ball much of the match scoring goals was a struggle. Menlo was led by senior defender Hannah Rubin, senior Rachel Pinsker, junior Amanda McFarland, and sophomore Lizzie Lacy.

Menlo can clinch its second straight division title by winning its next two matches, giving the Knights 27 points. With four matches left, the best SHP can finish is with 25 points while the best Priory or King's Academy can finish is with 23 points.

Priory visits SHP on Thursday (3:30 p.m.) in a must-win match for both teams.

In Palo Alto, Castilleja played the role of spoiler by deadlocking Sacred Heart Prep, 2-2. SHP slipped further in the WBAL race at 3-1-4 (7-2-5 overall). Taylor Ruegg and Brianna Carcione scored goals five minutes apart in the first half for SHP with Brigid White and Riley Shanahan providing assists.

In Portola Valley, host Priory (2-2-4, 3-4-6) also fell further behind in the WBAL race following a 2-2 deadlock with visiting King's Academy.

In the WBAL Skyline Division, host Pinewood posted a 6-0 victory over visiting Harker on Tuesday to improve to 7-0-1 in league (8-3-2 overall). Olivia Biggs had a hat trick for the Panthers with assists from Gretchen Olsen and Amrita Mecker.

Olsen, Nicole Colonna and Gabby Amos-Grosser added solo tallies. Leah Hess assisted on Olsen's goal.

Pinewood remains tied for the division lead with Mercy-Burlingame. Those teams meet next Tuesday at Skyline College with the winner playing the Foothill Division's third-place team in a playoff for the league's final Central Coast Section berth.

In the PAL Bay Division, visiting Menlo-Atherton got goals from Brittany Scheuch and Marilena McCarty during a 2-2 deadlock with Burlingame. Elizabeth Cruz and Julia Stoner added assists for the Bears (4-3-1, 6-5-3), who tallied both goals in the second half to overcome a 1-0 deficit.

Menlo-Atherton remains in fourth place with 13 points, still trailing Woodside (7-0-1), Carlmont (6-1-1) and Burlingame (5-2-1).

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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