The winter season is underway for local high school soccer teams and Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley high schools look to make a splash.
Scotts Valley boys seek league title
The Falcon boys varsity soccer team is striving to make school history this year.
The team has eight seniors: Noah Carl, Shun Gee, Cameron Hart, Steve Lonhart, James Marshall, Joshua Moncino, Alec Paul and Charles Stock and several key returning players in Spencer Smith and Matt Josselyn.
“We have chemistry I’ve had before on this team,” said head coach Brian Terwilleger. “The bond between them is strong. They all share a passion for the game.”
With a strong core of returners and a passion for soccer, the Falcon boys look to bring Scotts Valley High its first league title in school history.
“We could be number one this year,” said Terwilleger. “It all depends on their determination and their willingness to work hard for one another everyday.”
Senior Steve Lonhart has similar goals, “We’re going to take it to every team this year and hopefully get into the Central Coast Section Tournament.”
During the 2012-2013 season the Falcons just missed the playoffs, posting a 6-5-1 record in league and 7-9-2 overall while finishing fourth in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League. However, Stock, Carl and Marshall, the team’s top scorers as juniors all return to lead the Falcon offense.
Terwilleger, or Coach Twig as he is known to his players, has set a formula to reach the team’s lofty goals.
“We need to do our best everyday in practice,” he said. “We’ve got to learn, move on, and stay focused on the present.”
As of press-time, the Falcons hold a preseason record of 1-1-1, with a 4-0 win against Milpitas High, a 5-0 loss to Monterey High and a 2-2 with Kings Academy.
The Falcons play Soquel High School on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and King City on Dec. 20 and will take a break before a match up at home against San Lorenzo Valley High on Jan. 8. for their first Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League game.
San Lorenzo Valley looks for experience
San Lorenzo Valley High School boys varsity soccer team seeks to improve upon a challenging 2-9-1 Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League record last year.
The Cougars are focused on developing their skills as a team with key returning players Adam Lopez, and Garrett Kustin and captains Kjell Johnson, Galen James-Heskett, and Zach Smith.
“We’re very young this year,” said head coach David Okrant. “The goal this year is to keep improving with each game the best we can.”
The Cougars look to achieve growth throughout the SCCAL games.
“We have a very tough league,” Okrant said. “I am always looking to be able to see improvement in the second round of games.”
The Cougars are 0-3 to open the season with a 3-1 loss against Carmel High on Dec. 4, followed by a 3-0 loss to Sacred Heart Prep on Dec. 7 and a 1-0 loss to Pacific Grove on Dec. 11.
The Cougars will host Monta Vista High of Cupertino on Saturday, Dec. 14 and travel to Cupertino High on December 17 to finish the preseason.
SLV competes will open the SCCAL season at Scotts Valley High on January 8.
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