• Head coaches: Nanu Sidhu and Lifon Huynh

• Last season’s record: 10-2

• Last season recap: The team was able to work together to make it to the CCS semifinals and lost only to Saint Francis and major rival, Los Gatos.

• Team captains: Seniors Kate Bossi and Valerie Yang

• Key additions: sophomore Hannah Beine (center back) and junior Autumn Zuleeg (left back)

• Key matchups: Los Gatos, Monta Vista

• Star players: Seniors Kate Bossi (center midfielder), Valerie Yang (right back) and Siobhan Burgos (left midfielder)

• Key losses: Tina Miller, Hannah Leonard, Rachel Davey, Emily Chen

• League: De Anza Division (upper league)

Prognosis:

Following last season’s unexpected success, the team is hoping to make this year just as strong despite the graduation of seven players.

“Going into this season the loss of our starters had a huge impact on our team,” senior center midfielder Kate Bossi said. “We only have three returning varsity field players, meaning a lot of sophomores will have to step up into the varsity spot.”

With these losses and the fact that the varsity team currently has no substitutes, the prospect of an equally successful season looks challenging, senior right back Valerie Yang said.

Despite this, the team has been working together well in the pre-season.The team suffered a 4-0 loss against St. Ignatius on Aug. 26, despite the efforts of  Bossi in the midfield and those of sophomore defenders Hannah Beine and midfielder Ella Parr on defense.

The Falcons, however, began the season with a strong 1-0 home win against Christopher High on Aug. 18, with the lone goal coming from a slight deflection from sophomore midfielder Ella Parr.

Because the team consists of completely new players playing together, the team’s goal this season is to develop a strong chemistry, said Yang.

The team is also working to tactically improve during practices.

“This year, we’re focusing a lot more on smarter, quicker thinking when we’re on the field so we try to incorporate that kind of thinking by practicing different strategies to pass the ball and we practice deceptive plays,” Yang said.

The team also has strong support from experienced coach Nanu Sidhu.

“Nanu is a really important part of our team. Not only does he works us hard in drills and conditioning to push us to our best playing ability, but he also is the type of coach I hope everyone has once in their life,” Bossi said. “His passion for the game inspires every player to play their hardest creating a motivation for our team to succeed this season [despite the setbacks].”