Head Coach: Ben Maxwell

2017-2018 record: 5-8-6

2017-2018 recap: Last year they had 14 people on varsity and the entire team worked hard to communicate well, leading to a successful early season. The team did not make CCS, suffering many injuries during the season.

Key Additions: goalie junior Adrienne Chan, sophomore forward Michelle Lim

Key Matchups: Mountain View, Los Gatos and Palo Alto

Star Players: senior center defender Sasha Pickard

Key losses to graduation: center mid Chloe McGee, outside backs Allison Borch and Sadhana Vadrevu, forwards/midfielders Caroline Chen and Daphne Liu, goalie Christina Walb.

League: De Anza League

Prognosis:

Since half the starting roster graduated last year, Pickard said, incoming talent and the returning players will have to work hard this season to fill the empty spots, finish in a good position and make CCS.

Pickard said that the Falcons are “definitely going to feel it more in the midfield without [alumna] Chloe McGhee to distribute and hold that key spot during the game.”

This year’s team has just two seniors, but Pickard said that there are new freshmen who play at a high level of club soccer. With this new blood, the girls’ soccer team hopes to focus on team chemistry early in the season to condition the team to perform better together.

“Since there will be a lot of new people, we will definitely have to bond quicker and stronger so our dynamics and chemistry on the field is good,” senior forward Jennah El-Ashmawi said.

El-Ashmawi also said that the team is still looking to recruit more players. Having lost the core of the team due to graduation, the Falcons are working hard to prepare for a challenging season to face key rivals.

“It’s gonna be a tough season, but everyone’s definitely ready to put in the work,” said Pickard.