Freshman Chloe Japic called Palo Alto’s 2-0 girls’ soccer victory over visiting Mountain View “by far the the biggest game we’ve played.”
Japic, the team’s leading goal scorer with 10, brings a fresh perspective to the Vikings’ season. She wasn’t around when Paly lost to Mitty, on penalty kicks, in the first round of the CCS Open Division playoffs last year.
The Vikings had to watch Mountain View and Woodside play for the CCS title.
“Penalty kicks are a tough way to lose,” junior midfielder Emily Tomz said. “It was disappointing but at the same time made me want to come back and prove something.”
That’s what Palo Alto has been doing all season. The Vikings opened with a victory over Woodside and Tuesday’s SCVAL De Anza Division match evened things with Mountain View. It was their first win over the Spartans in two years.
When senior defender Lauola Amanoni, who officially signs her letter-of-intent for San Jose State on Wednesday, scored late in the first half, it was also Palo Alto’s first goal against the Spartans in two years.
“We have to keep up the intensity and finish strong,” Tomz said. “I hope we get to see Mountain View again.”
There’s a good possibility that could happen. Palo Alto (11-0-3, 5-0-3) is in a virtual tie with the Spartans (12-1-2, 5-1-1) in the standings.
“This was a much-needed win just for our psyches,” Vikings coach Kurt Devlin said. “I didn’t know what to expect. It was another gritty performance and Clara saved us again.”
That would be Clara Luehrs, who made several key saves top preserve Palo Alto’s shutout streak. She stopped a penalty kick, in the rain, the last time the teams met.
The Vikings’ signature has always been about defense, and even more so against Mountain View.
Palo Alto travels to Homestead for a league match at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Should the Vikings hold the Mustangs scoreless through the first half, they will have gone more 1,000 minutes since giving up their only goal of the season.
Gunn’s Liz Schremp scored in the 78th minute in a 2-1 Paly victory on Dec. 1, the second game of the season.
“Our focus has to be on defense,” said Tomz, who leads the team with nine assists. “Especially against Mountain View. We have to close in and rely on Clara.”
Amanoni scored in the 39th minute. Japic added a goal in the 40th minute.
“When I saw Sophie (Vogel), I saw an opportunity,” Japic said. “I just went for it. I’m just at the right place at the right time. Emily has almost all the assists on my goals. I’m just here to finish.”
Senior Tess Preising, who has nine goals, has also been an effective weapon for the Vikings.
SCVAL El Camino Division
Natalie Hill scored twice, Haily Leclerc recorded a pair of assists and Gunn beat visiting Milpitas, 3-0, to remain atop of the league standings.
Allie Chu also scored for the Titans (10-5-1, 8-0), who play at Monta Vista next Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
PAL Bay Division
Josephine Cotto and Diana Morales each scored twice to help Menlo-Atherton beat host Carlmont, 6-3, on Tuesday.
Katie Guenin added a goal and two assists for the streaking Bears (9-3-1, 8-0), who won their ninth straight.
Ella Missan also scored, Nicole Salz added an assist, and Margaret Child helped set up another goal.
Menlo-Atherton plays at Burlingame on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Woodside (5-6-1, 5-2-1) beat host Capuchino, 1-0, to remain tied for second in the PAL with Terra Nova.
WBAL
Mia Shenk, one of Sacred Heart Prep’s leading scorer, returned to the lineup and scored in the 79th minute, with an assist from Cameron Gordon, to lift the Gators past host King’s Academy in a Foothill Division contest Tuesday.
The King’s Academy had tied the score in the 75th minute.
Lauren von Thaden gave the Gators the lead with a goal in the fourth minute, off an assist from Lindsey Johnson.
Sacred Heart Prep (11-4, 6-0) plays at Notre Dame-Belmont on Thursday at 2:45 p.m.
The Gators have an 8-point lead over Menlo School in the league standings.
The Knights (3-2-1 league, 7-4-2 overall) turned the tables on host Notre Dame-Belmont in a 3-1 victory, getting a hat trick from senior Cleo King.
Menlo went into the game tied for second with the Tigers, who had beaten them in the first half of league play.
Menlo scored its first when senior Emma Richart delivered a free kick that nearly went in before NDB’s goalie tapped it out. King headed in the rebound with 15:40 left in the half.
Just over two minutes later, King scored on a feed from junior Hunter MacDonald and the Knights took a 2-0 lead. Notre Dame-Belmont scored with 2 minutes left in the half.
In the second half, it was King again, who knocked in a shot in the middle of a crowd at the goal line with 13 minutes into the second half.
The Knights play host to Crystal Springs Uplands at 3 pm Thursday.
In the Skyline Division, Castilleja (5-9, 3-4) beat Eastside Prep, 4-0, with Olivia Watson scoring all four goals. Ella Nudell assisted on two and Rachel Gropper assisted on one.
Moorea Mitchell recorded the shutout as goalkeeper.