What a difference a couple of days can make–or in the case of the Cupertino girls field hockey team, a couple of days and a couple of opponents.
The Pioneers opened play last week with a thrilling 1-0 win over rival Monta Vista. But just two days later, Cupertino ran head first into unbeaten Los Gatos and was pounded 11-0.
The Pioneers were in good company, though. Every team in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League is getting blanked by the Wildcats this season. So far, Los Gatos has shut out eight straight opponents in league play, outscoring them 84-0 in the process. Gatos will no doubt easily cruise to the SCVAL championship.
Still, Cupertino is hanging in there in the race for second place, and the Pioneers made a good case for themselves with the 1-0 win over Monta Vista last week. Senior forward Lauren Rowe, the team co-captain for the Pioneers along with senior mid Jordan Amick and senior defender Thalia Terry, scored a first-half goal and that stood up for the Cupertino win.
Last week’s split left the Pioneers 6-3 in league play and in a virtual second-place tie with Saratoga (6-2) and Monta Vista (6-3).
The Matadors bounced back from their loss to Cupertino with a 2-0 win over Homestead.
Janaye Sakkas popped a goal off an assist from Allegra Ziegler Hunts in the first half, then returned the favor with an assist on Ziegler Hunts’ goal before intermission.
Monta Vista held the 2-0 lead throughout the second half to clinch its sixth win of the league season.
Saratoga stayed in the mix for second place with an impressive 3-0 win over Lynbrook. Sophomore Tina Miller had a goal and two assists and senior Christina Crolla added a goal and an assist to place the Falcons to the win.
Sophomore Emily Chen also scored a goal for Saratoga. Junior Anne Rollinson added two assists and junior Erin Norris had one.
Saratoga was to face Monta Vista in a key game earlier this week and will try to play the role of the giant killer when it visits Los Gatos on Oct. 31, 3:30 p.m. The Falcons close out the league campaign with a home game against Los Altos on Nov. 5, 6:45 p.m., before visiting Cupertino on Nov. 7, 3 p.m., for a big game on the last day of the regular season.
Monta Vista will entertain Lynbrook on Oct. 31, 3 p.m., and will close out SCVAL play at Los Gatos on Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m.
Before closing out the year against Saratoga, Cupertino will visit Homestead on Nov. 5, 5 p.m.
SCVAL standings (as of Oct. 28): Los Gatos 8-0 (11-0), Saratoga 6-2, Cupertino 6-3, Monta Vista 6-3, Los Altos 1-5-1, Homestead 0-5-1, Lynbrook 0-6-1
