LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Acalanes Girls' Soccer Team Sets the Pace as Season Gets Underway


Acalanes Photos Gint Federas

The girls' soccer season has only just begun, but the DFAL has an early frontrunner.

Acalanes is pouring in goals. Through the first five games the squad has found the back of the net on 30 occasions.

"They're taking chances and they're definitely clicking," said head coach Evan Sassano. "We have a lot of options, but playing together as a team is going to be the thing."

So far, the team's top option has been Katharine Torchio, who has racked up six strikes. The senior has helped lead the Dons, who own a 2-0-0 record in league (5-0-0 overall), to a share of first place in the DFAL standings.

On Dec. 10, Acalanes cruised past Las Lomas 4-1 to open league play with a big road win. The team followed up with a 1-0 away win over Dougherty Valley on Dec. 12. Torchio provided the game-winning goal in the second half.

It's been an impressive start for a team that went 0-4-8 in league a season ago. While Sassano cautions that it's still extremely early, he likes the direction his team is headed.

"Obviously, just like any other team I'm sure [our goal] is to win league and win the playoffs. This program hasn't won a championship yet, so we definitely think that's something to shoot for and something that we want to accomplish," he explained.

The Miramonte girls' team knows all about winning. Last year, the Mats rolled to a 10-1-1 record in league (15-3-1 overall). The squad claimed first place in DFAL.

This year, the team is 1-2-0 overall and tied for third place in league with a 1-1-0 record. On Dec. 5, Miramonte lost 3-2 to Piedmont in the team's only non-league game of the season. Sophomore Mia Grillo and freshman Angeline Liu each scored a goal in the defeat.

The Mats dropped the first game of DFAL action, losing 3-0 at Alhambra on Dec. 10.

Miramonte bounced back from that defeat by going out on the road and shutting out Dublin 5-0 on Dec. 12. The Mats had four goals in a second-half onslaught and junior Cecilia Gee collected a hat trick.

Miramonte is slated to host Campolindo on Dec. 19 in the first rivalry matchup of the season. The game pits the top DFAL teams from a season ago against each other. Campolindo head coach Ernesto Silva knows that the clash with the Mats will be just one of many challenging tests that his team faces this season.

"I don't believe there will be one dominant team. Every game in our league will be tough," he said.

With a 1-1-0 record in DFAL (3-2-0 overall), Campolindo is tied with Miramonte for third place in the league standings. On Dec. 10, the Cougars won their first league game of the season, getting past Dublin 1-0. Senior AJ Morgan provided the decisive strike in the home win.

Campolindo then fell 1-0 at Alhambra in a road matchup on Dec. 12. Silva predicts an upswing for the Cougars as the team spends more time training and playing together.

"Given that we had very little time to prepare due to club commitments for several of our players, we have had some solid performances early on," he explained. "I believe we will continue to improve."