The San Lorenzo Valley High girls soccer team finished the preseason with winning record, going 4-3-1 in eight preseason contests.
However, the Cougars dropped to .500 on the season this week after the Harbor High Pirates dominated the offensive side of the game and kept them scoreless in their Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League opener. The Pirates shut out the Cougars 2-0 at Depot Park on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Kaitlin Delucchi and Jessie Tobin each scored a goal for Harbor as the versatile Pirate offense kept pressure on the SLV defense all game.
SLV goalkeeper McKenna Maness deflected a barrage of shots on goal, including eight saves, while the Cougars made only three attempts on the Pirates’ net.
“I am very proud of the way we played tonight,” said Cougar head coach Heidi Romswinckel-Guise. “Our girls were under pressure the whole game, but we kept our composure and hung with them. They are a very talented team, so this was a big test for us.”
SLV finished last season with two league victories, both over the St. Francis Sharks, a team that was winless through league play.
“At this point, hanging tough with the powerhouses in our league is a huge step for us,” Romswinckel-Guise said. “We need to focus on day-to-day improvement and keep on top of these girls. It took us a while to get into our groove, but we will get there.”
Harbor (5-1 overall, 1-0 SCCAL) sat atop the SCCAL with Soquel High after Tuesday’s game, but on Thursday, Jan. 5, it faced a tough Santa Cruz team that gave it its only preseason loss.
San Lorenzo Valley (4-4-1 overall, 0-1 SCCAL) also had an uphill battle this week, facing last year’s league champion, Scotts Valley, at home Thursday after press time. The game was Scotts Valley’s SCCAL opener.
