SPORTS

Mustangs return to action and get 26-7 win over Raiders
First Mt. Hamilton Division win for Pioneer Football this year

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

JUST CALL ME STRETCH. Mustang running back Shaun Souza (number 5) tries to get into the end zone on a 31-yard run. Souza was stopped one yard short but his team scored one play later, getting a one-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak from Chris Foley. Photo by Kevin Jones.

A two-week break can fix a lot of things, the Pioneer Mustangs found out, including how to win a football game.

That was exactly the case on Saturday, Oct. 2, as the Mustangs (3-1 overall, 1-0 league) came back from a two-week lull to defeat the visiting Silver Creek Raiders 26-7 in their Blossom Valley Athletic League/Mount Hamilton Division opener.

Following the win over the Raiders, Mustang Head Coach Mark Krail had an ear-to-ear smile and some good things to say about his squad.

“We were coming off our bye week, so we had two weeks to think about our effort at Saratoga,” Krail said. “I’m proud of the guys in the way they came out of the gate and that was important. We knew this was going to be a real physical game today.”

Only a fortnight before, things seemed a lot bleaker for the Mustangs as they finished up a 34-27 loss to Saratoga. Sure, the score was close in the end, but only after the Mustangs fought their way out of an early 21-0 deficit.

Like a center in basketball snatching away a ball near the hoop, the Mustangs rebounded in true team fashion. It started early in the first quarter, when Mustang linebacker Collin McCarthy stepped into Raider quarterback Pilar Gonzales’ passing lane and picked off a throw, returning it 25 yards for a Pioneer touchdown and 7-0 lead with 8:14 to go.

“I just saw their tight end come up and I stopped right in front of him and (Gonzalez) threw it right to me,” McCarthy said of his defensive play. “It was pretty good. It set the tempo for the defense.”

Pioneer quarterback Chris Foley, a sophomore, didn’t have an all-pro day at his position, but did enough to help the Mustangs get out to a 21-0 lead at halftime. Foley, who finished the day 6-for-11 passing for 73 yards, let his legs do the work first, diving through a pile of defenders at the goal line for a 1-yard score with 6:41 left in the first quarter to put his team up by 14.

“He’s doing exactly what we’re asking him to do,” Krail said of Foley. “He’s running our offense and I’m very proud of him. He’s learning, and obviously he’s only a sophomore, but we’re throwing him into the fire a little bit and he’s learning.”

With 7:29 left on the clock in the second quarter, it was the young quarterback’s arm that did the damage to Silver Creek, completing a 40-yard pass down the left sideline to running back Andrew Schulz for another touchdown, making the score 21-0.

After the Mustangs recorded a safety on Gonzales to begin the third quarter, it was another Mustang’s leg that did the work. Bobby Lopez, who also saw time at wide receiver and defensive end throughout the game, booted a 43-yard field goal with 7:06 to go in the third for a comfortable 26-0 cushion on the Raiders.

“We just forgot about it,” said Mustang tight end Rolando Gomez about the team’s loss at Saratoga. “We used that game to get ahead, think about it and say, ‘Okay, we’ll do better next week.’”

The Mustangs continue their swing through the Mount Hamilton Division today, squaring off on the road against the Branham Bruins at 7:30 p.m.

High School Sports Schedule Oct. 8-14

Leland High School
Friday – JV field hockey vs. St. Ignatius, 4:30 p.m.
Friday – Varsity field hockey vs. St. Ignatius, 3 p.m.
Friday – Frosh/soph football at Independence, 5 p.m.
Friday – Varsity football at Independence, 7:30 p.m.
Friday – Varsity girls’ water polo at Valley Christian Classic
Friday – JV girls’ water polo at Monte Vista Tournament

Saturday - Varsity girls’ water polo at Valley Christian Classic
Saturday – JV girls’ water polo at Monte Vista Tournament
Saturday – Frosh/soph boys’ water polo at St. Francis Tournament
Saturday – Cross country at Serra Invitational in Crystal Springs
Saturday – JV girls’ volleyball at Leland JV Tournament

Tuesday – JV girls’ volleyball vs. Branham, 5 p.m.
Tuesday –Varsity girls’ volleyball vs. Branham, 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Girls’ tennis at Silver Creek, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – Frosh/soph boys’ water polo vs. Independence, 3 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity boys’ water polo vs. Independence, 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity girls’ water polo vs. Mount Pleasant at Lincoln, 4 p.m.

Wednesday – JV field hockey vs. Los Altos, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday –Varsity field hockey vs. Los Altos, 3 p.m.

Thursday – Frosh/soph boys’ water polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Willow Glen, 4 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity boys’ water polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Willow Glen, 5 p.m.
Thursday – Girls’ tennis at Pioneer, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – JV girls’ volleyball at Leigh, 5 p.m.
Thursday –Varsity girls’ volleyball at Leigh, 6 p.m.
Thursday – Cross country at Mills Center Meet in Crystal Springs
Thursday – JV girls’ water polo at Independence, 6 p.m.
Thursday –Varsity girls’ water polo at Independence, 7 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Friday – Frosh/soph football at Branham, 5 p.m.
Friday – Varsity football at Branham, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday – JV girls’ volleyball at Half Moon Bay Tournament, 9 a.m.

Tuesday – Girls’ tennis vs. Oak Grove, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – JV girls’ volleyball vs. Gunderson, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday –Varsity girls’ volleyball vs. Gunderson, 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Frosh/soph boys’ water polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Independence, 4 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity boys’ water polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Independence, 5 p.m.
Tuesday – JV girls’ water polo vs. Evergreen at Lincoln, 5 p.m.
Tuesday –Varsity girls’ water polo vs. Evergreen at Lincoln, 6 p.m.

Wednesday – Cross country vs. Del Mar, Andrew Hill at Montgomery Hill, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday – JV girls’ volleyball vs. San Jose, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday –Varsity girls’ volleyball vs. San Jose, 5 p.m.
Thursday – Girls’ tennis vs. Leland, 3:15 p.m.

New expectations on and off the court for Pioneer girls’ tennis

Pregnant coach copes with her team’s switch to higher division
By Diego Abeloos
Staff Writer
The start of the 2004 Blossom Valley Athletic League season has come with new challenges and expectations for the Pioneer Mustangs girls’ tennis team.
After finishing the 2003 season in second place at 12-2 in the Santa Teresa Division, the Mustangs find themselves bumped up a level to the more competitive Mount Hamilton Division for 2004.
Tennis Coach Julie Szarlacki knows the challenges ahead for her team are bigger than last year, and makes no bones about the reality of the new situation.
“My expectation, or goal, is to finish in fourth place or at .500, winning half of our games,” she said. “I knew this was going to be a tough league so I wanted to make sure the girls had fun out there. I know we’ve accomplished that.”
However, there is another expectation off the field for Szarlacki—she’s five months pregnant with her and husband Chris’ second child.
While pregnancy may throw up red flags for some, Szarlacki is taking her second quest into motherhood, as well as the 2004 tennis season, in stride. She readily admits that her mobility and physical activity this season with the team is limited to hitting a few balls back and forth lightly and feeding the new tennis ball machine.
“I would like to be able to do more,” Szarlacki said. “It’s probably been a bit more tiring for me, but this is a good group of girls. They understand.”
Back on the court, things are beginning to play out as Szarlacki predicted. Despite a 5-2 loss on Sept. 30, at Piedmont Hills, the team’s record stands at 3-4, a far cry from being considered cellar dwellers in the standings. One week prior, the team hosted Silver Creek High on Sept. 23 and won 6-1. That victory came on the heels of a tough 4-3 loss two days earlier to division foe Leland, in which Pioneer’s no.1 singles player, Misa Tanaka, and the no.1 doubles duo of Giana Flores and Caroline Tran, lost key matches to their opponents.
This time around, however, Tanaka, as well as Flores and Tran, took important matches from the Silver Creek Raiders.
Tanaka defeated her opponent, Rosette Nguyen, in straight sets by a score of 6-0, 6-1.
“I think that for me, it was a good game,” Tanaka said of her match up with Nguyen. “We’re in the (Mount Hamilton) Division this year for the first time, so we’re kind of nervous sometimes and we’re challenged to face stronger teams, so I like it.”
Small in stature and often matched up against bigger players with powerful tennis swings, Tanaka’s greatest ability on the tennis court, Szarlacki said, is her composure.
“She could be down 1-5 and you wouldn’t know it by the way she carries herself on the court,” Szarlacki said of Tanaka. “Other coaches in the league love her for that too.”
Yet with Tanaka’s composure comes a touch of humbleness as well. Szarlacki added that she admires Tanaka’s sportsmanship on the court.
“She’s a gracious player,” Szarlacki said. “She’s a good winner and a good loser.”
In the no.1 doubles match against the Raiders, Flores and Tran bounced back from a rough start to take the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6. After some much-needed counseling from their coach, the duo put together a solid second set, taking a 6-3 decision from Silver Creek’s Van Nguyen and Michelle Pham.
“I thought we played very well,” Flores said afterward. “We slowed their game down because they had a lot of topspin (on their returns). We were just trying to hit the ball back because we’re not used to topspin that much.”
Although the victory was a confidence booster for the duo, Szarlacki said one thing both girls must improve on is not getting down on themselves during matches.
“I think sometimes they lose focus during their match, even when they’re ahead,” Szarlacki said. “I try to remember to tell them that it’s not over until it’s over.”
Despite their wavering confidence at times, Tran and Flores, who are good friends away from the court, have earned their coach’s trust.
“Giana’s got great volleys and she’s really strong at the net,” Szarlacki said. “Caroline compliments Giana well because they get along really well. That’s a big deal when it comes to doubles.”
So while the season is still young and the expectations, at least on the court, are somewhat muted, the Pioneer girls’ tennis team are trying their best to adjust to not only a new league, but new situations as well—just like their coach.

New expectations on and off the court for Pioneer girls’ tennis
Pregnant coach copes with her team’s switch to higher division

By Diego Abeloos
Staff Writer

The start of the 2004 Blossom Valley Athletic League season has come with new challenges and expectations for the Pioneer Mustangs girls’ tennis team.

After finishing the 2003 season in second place at 12-2 in the Santa Teresa Division, the Mustangs find themselves bumped up a level to the more competitive Mount Hamilton Division for 2004.

Tennis Coach Julie Szarlacki knows the challenges ahead for her team are bigger than last year, and makes no bones about the reality of the new situation.

“My expectation, or goal, is to finish in fourth place or at .500, winning half of our games,” she said. “I knew this was going to be a tough league so I wanted to make sure the girls had fun out there. I know we’ve accomplished that.”

However, there is another expectation off the field for Szarlacki—she’s five months pregnant with her and husband Chris’ second child.

While pregnancy may throw up red flags for some, Szarlacki is taking her second quest into motherhood, as well as the 2004 tennis season, in stride. She readily admits that her mobility and physical activity this season with the team is limited to hitting a few balls back and forth lightly and feeding the new tennis ball machine.

“I would like to be able to do more,” Szarlacki said. “It’s probably been a bit more tiring for me, but this is a good group of girls. They understand.”

Back on the court, things are beginning to play out as Szarlacki predicted. Despite a 5-2 loss on Sept. 30, at Piedmont Hills, the team’s record stands at 3-4, a far cry from being considered cellar dwellers in the standings.

One week prior, the team hosted Silver Creek High on Sept. 23 and won 6-1. That victory came on the heels of a tough 4-3 loss two days earlier to division foe Leland, in which Pioneer’s no.1 singles player, Misa Tanaka, and the no.1 doubles duo of Giana Flores and Caroline Tran, lost key matches to their opponents.

This time around, however, Tanaka, as well as Flores and Tran, took important matches from the Silver Creek Raiders.

Tanaka defeated her opponent, Rosette Nguyen, in straight sets by a score of 6-0, 6-1.

“I think that for me, it was a good game,” Tanaka said of her match up with Nguyen. “We’re in the (Mount Hamilton) Division this year for the first time, so we’re kind of nervous sometimes and we’re challenged to face stronger teams, so I like it.”

Small in stature and often matched up against bigger players with powerful tennis swings, Tanaka’s greatest ability on the tennis court, Szarlacki said, is her composure.

“She could be down 1-5 and you wouldn’t know it by the way she carries herself on the court,” Szarlacki said of Tanaka. “Other coaches in the league love her for that too.”

Yet with Tanaka’s composure comes a touch of humbleness as well. Szarlacki added that she admires Tanaka’s sportsmanship on the court.

“She’s a gracious player,” Szarlacki said. “She’s a good winner and a good loser.”

In the no.1 doubles match against the Raiders, Flores and Tran bounced back from a rough start to take the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6. After some much-needed counseling from their coach, the duo put together a solid second set, taking a 6-3 decision from Silver Creek’s Van Nguyen and Michelle Pham.

“I thought we played very well,” Flores said afterward. “We slowed their game down because they had a lot of topspin (on their returns). We were just trying to hit the ball back because we’re not used to topspin that much.”

Although the victory was a confidence booster for the duo, Szarlacki said one thing both girls must improve on is not getting down on themselves during matches.

“I think sometimes they lose focus during their match, even when they’re ahead,” Szarlacki said. “I try to remember to tell them that it’s not over until it’s over.”

Despite their wavering confidence at times, Tran and Flores, who are good friends away from the court, have earned their coach’s trust.

“Giana’s got great volleys and she’s really strong at the net,” Szarlacki said. “Caroline compliments Giana well because they get along really well. That’s a big deal when it comes to doubles.”

So while the season is still young and the expectations, at least on the court, are somewhat muted, the Pioneer girls’ tennis team are trying their best to adjust to not only a new league, but new situations as well—just like their coach.

Dinner is served

By Ryan Stenn
Special to the Times

There’s nothing better than a generous National Lacrosse League player, except for a generous NLL player who knows how to cook. Members of the San Jose Stealth performed their best Wolfgang Puck impersonations Tuesday, Sept. 21 as they served up specially made spaghetti for families at the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

Stealth players Jim Moss, Gary Rosyski and Shaydon Santos, as well as General Manager and Head Coach Johnny Mouradian, friends, family and staff of the Stealth helped prepare and serve the popular Italian dish as well as clean up after the event.

Headed by standout defenseman Moss, who also runs the Stealth community relations department, the players made a run to the grocery store, purchased goods to make spaghetti with meat sauce, vegetarian sauce, garlic bread and cookies.

Stealth players and staff served more than 50 people. Preparation began in the afternoon, while the cleanup and the final goodbyes lasted until 8 p.m. Families at the house were very grateful for the Stealth’s generosity, as was the staff at the house.

“It was an awesome event,” said Mouradian. “It was great to see our players there and giving back into the community. It tells a lot about the type of players and staff we have.”

The Stealth will be doing this every third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. through the close of the NLL season next May. If you wish to make donations for the Oct. 19 event please contact (408) 977-4775.

Since 1974, Ronald McDonald Houses have been providing a “home-away-from home” for families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. The houses serve as a temporary residence near the medical facility where family members can sleep, eat, relax and find support from other families in similar situations.

The Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, The House That Love Built, has been open since 1979, serving more than 1,000 families annually.

For more information on Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit www.ronaldhouse/stanford.org.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Leland High School
The varsity football team took its third straight loss on the chin on Friday, Oct. 1, dropping a 21-13 decision to the Branham Bruins in Mount Hamilton Division play. The Chargers got two touchdowns runs in the game from Kyle Jones, in at running back after starting the previous week at quarterback. The first touchdown came in the second quarter on a 10-yard run with 5:26 to go, with Jones getting his second touchdown in the fourth quarter, a three-yard score with 2:11 left.

The Bruins proved too much to handle however, as they scored twice in the second half to get an early 14-6 lead, before getting one more touchdown in the third quarter to lengthen their lead.

With the loss, the Chargers dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in league play.

“I’m a lot happier with the way we played today,” said Charger Head Coach Kelly Edwards after the game. “We played much more together as a football team today. Offensively, we moved the ball and did the little things we weren’t doing (the previous week).”

In girls’ water polo action, the Chargers lost a 10-8 decision to Archbishop Mitty on Tuesday, Sept. 28, despite two goals each from sophomores Elena SantaMaria and Brittany Hall.

Down 7-0 at the half, the Chargers put their offense together and bounced back to outscore Mitty in the second half, but it wasn’t enough for a Leland victory.

“Brittany was very surprising,” Head Coach Eric Rise said. “I’ve been waiting for her to come around all season. She and Casey Armstrong helped turn things around for us.”

In boys’ water polo, the Chargers got a 7-5 win over Pioneer on Wednesday, Sept. 29, getting two goals each from juniors Shane Keno and Jon Foote.

The team then headed a few miles north on Friday, Oct.1, to compete in the St. Francis Invitational. Friday started out rough, as the Chargers dropped both games for the day, a 12-4 loss to Aragon and a 7-2 loss to Archbishop Mitty. In the loss to Aragon, Keno scored three goals, adding one more goal in the defeat to Mitty.

On Saturday, Oct. 2, the Chargers lost a 5-2 game to Palo Alto and dropped an 8-4 decision to Burlingame to set the team’s record at 4-11 overall.

The field hockey team had a positive week to build upon, getting a 1-0 overtime win at Live Oak on Wednesday, Sept. 29, before winning another 1-0 nail-biter on Friday, Oct. 1, against Westmont at home. For the season, the Chargers’ record now stands at 3-1-1.

“They’ve been playing great,” said Head Coach Sharan Kalla. “They’ve been communicating well on the field and passing well. They’ve been doing a great job.”

In cross country, the Chargers dropped a 39-18 decision to Evergreen Valley and a 35-20 loss to Silver Creek at Montgomery Hill on Thursday, Sept. 30. On the girls’ side, sophomore Monica Song was a top finisher for Leland, as was sophomore Dean Crosbie for the boys. The meet put the girls’ varsity record at 1-3, while the boys went to 2-2.

On Saturday, Oct. 2, the Chargers went to Half Moon Bay for the Artichoke Invitational, getting a 19th-place finish out of Song, who ran the 2.25-mile course in 15 minutes and 53 seconds. For the boys, sophomore Bob Toney finished 33rd with a time of 13:43 while junior Takahiro Shiraiwa finished at 13:41.

“I think we’re doing well because we have such a young team,” said Head Coach Jerry Rose. “There’s nobody in the league with the youth that we have on our team.”

The girls’ volleyball team kept rolling along, getting a 25-21, 27-25 and 25-13 win over Westmont on Wednesday, Sept. 29, before taking a 25-17, 25-13, 23-25 and 25-22 win over host Santa Teresa on Friday, Oct. 1.

Against Westmont, Chaulet Scala led the way with nine kills, while teaming up with Marissa Brehmer for nine kills each against Santa Teresa. The Chargers now stand at 7-5 overall for the season.

Pioneer High School
The girls’ volleyball squad had an up-and-down week, dropping a 16-25, 25-14, 25-18 and 25-18 decision to Lincoln on the road on Tuesday, Sept. 28, before bouncing back the next day to take a 25-17, 25-22 and 26-24 win at home against San Jose High.

Against Lincoln, Stephanie Morales led the offense with four kills. The following day, it was Katie Town who led the offensive attack with five kills to improve the Mustangs’ record to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in league standings.

“They’ve been doing really well,” said Head Coach Michelle Ritter of her team. “Lincoln is a good team with good hitters. They were a big challenge for us.”The girls’ water polo team saw victory come its way in the form of a 15-0 win against Silver Creek on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Junior Rebecca Wallworth led the way on offense with five goals, while freshman Elyssa Samson chipped in three goals as well.

“She got some shots off and scored on some rebounds,” Head Coach Gordy Smith said of Wallworth. “It was a good game for her.”

The win, which also included two goals apiece from Taylor Feezor and Katie Lopicollo, improved the team’s record to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in league.

“We started out slow but once we got into out game, we played well,” concluded Smith.

In boys’ water polo action, the Mustangs dropped a 7-5 decision to rival Leland on Wednesday, Sept. 29, before heading to the Independence Tournament Oct. 1-2.

On Friday, the Mustangs took a 14-11 win from Lynbrook in which junior Kevin Zondervan scored five times and senior Doug York scored four more goals on offense. The team then dropped a 13-3 loss to Carmel on Friday, getting two goals from David Atala.

On Saturday, the team again split their two games, getting a 12-4 win over Aptos, with Atala chipping in four goals, while suffering an 11-2 loss to Gilroy to finish off the tournament. The Mustangs ended up going home on Saturday with a 5-7 record overall, 1-1 in league play.

“We’re definitely improving,” said Head Coach Scott Kaubish. “We play periods of good polo but we need to keep our composure.”

In cross country, the Mustangs swept all three divisions during a meet on Sept. 29 against Prospect and San Jose High at Montgomery Hill. The result was a 2-0 record for the frosh/soph boys, varsity girls and varsity boys’ teams.

Pioneer runner Steve DeLay finished the 2.74-mile course first in individual times with 16 minutes and 24 seconds, followed closely by Ken Rose, who finished second with a 16:55 time.

“It was nice that Steve was able to run a good time,” Head Coach Jim Polanco said. “It was nice to see (DeLay and Rose) go first and second in individual times.”

Conquering lady of 2003 out due to pregnancy… but Mike Toney is up to speed

By Karl Laucher
Staff writer

Mike Toney of Almaden knows something about speed. He is a physicist at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center where electrons trot along at the speed of light—about 186,000 miles per second.

So, that’s the joke. Toney is fast, but he’s not THAT fast. Nevertheless, at age 46, he will be defending two championships in the 11th annual Almaden Times Classic 10k run on Sunday. The event, a benefit for the Almaden Valley Counseling Service, also includes a 2-mile run and a 2-mile social walk.

As a man well versed in the theory of relativity, Toney, appropriately, was not concerned that he earned the distinction of being the first male winner of the Almaden Classic 10k to finish behind the first woman finisher. Dr. Keri Ann Bertrand of Gilroy finished 24 seconds ahead of Dr. Toney, who clocked in at 35 minutes, 48 seconds a year ago.

Bertrand, who was bounding, at that time, for a chance to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team as a marathoner, will not be participating in this year’s race. She is due to give birth to a baby boy later this month. Note: She did make it to the Olympic Trials in St, Louis, but finished 70th, not bad for being about 10 weeks pregnant. She said she hopes to return to the Almaden Classic in 2005 with baby Shay in tow.

Toney, meanwhile, has remained on course as a quality recreational runner. Since winning both the men’s open and men’s 45 titles in the Almaden Classic last year, he won his age group in the Run for the Law Foundation race in Los Gatos, in June, and placed 78th among15,000 runners in the Wharf to Wharf (Santa Cruz to Capitola) race in July.

He definitely has no Olympic ambitions, but Toney obviously is quite linear in his acceleration. “I just see it (running) as a fitness activity and an outlet for my competitive nature,” Toney said. “I don’t see myself as being that unique. One of the things about running is that almost anyone can do it.”

Tony expects to be joined in the Almaden Classic by his wife, Carol, who plans to participate in the 2-mile walk.

Official Almaden Times Classic racing and walking begin in the Leland High School parking lot at 9 a.m. Winners in the 14 age categories (seven each for men and women) in the Almaden Times Classic will receive commemorative desk clocks. The entry fee (including race day) is $25 for adults and $15 for children (under age 12). For more information call (408) 997-0200 or register online at www.active.com.

Almaden Fury wins Palo Alto Tall Trees Invitational

By George Karabatsos,
Fury coach
Special to the Times

The girls U-14 Almaden soccer club recently defeated the Alpine Stampede 3-0 in the championship game to win the Palo Alto Tall Trees Invitational Tournament. More than 60 teams competed in the tournament as the Fury won its first tournament this year in this highly competitive event.

The scoring in Sunday’s championship match started with a left-footed volley from Jenna Todd on a serve by captain Emily Trudeau. Moments later, Katie McLaughlin had a header in the box to extend the lead to 2-0 at the half. The Fury finished off the Stampede early in the second half when Jennifer Clift finished a loose ball in the penalty area to make it 3-0.

To get to the finals, the Fury had a tremendous effort and win when Oly Mangin headed a ball into the upper 90 with moments left in the match against one of the top clubs in NorCal, the Pleasanton Rage. The central midfield corps of captain “E” Tobias and Shelby Brehmer combined with an outstanding defensive effort from Stephanie Kellett, Laura Roberts, Chelsey West, Alannah Zurovski and Shinal Patel, resulting in a 1-0 victory over the Rage.

Almaden outscored its opponents in the tournament by a combined score of 11-0. The outside midfield group of Allyson Druhan, Anisha Sampat and Jenna Todd teamed up with forwards Anna Bettisworth and Christina Muncy to carry the day for Almaden. Goalkeeper H.J. Brehmer stood tall in the goal as she “pitched” four straight shutouts for the Fury.

Almaden placed third in the Petaluma “Kickin’ Chicken” Tournament in August and will compete in the District II Cup next. In addition to the work on the field, the Fury team is working hard off the field as well. The team has raised over $2,000 this summer to help fund a trip to Hawaii where they will play in the Hawaii Cup in July of 2005 and defend the championship won by their older sister club a year ago.

The Fury is coached by Jolene Keel, Jim Kellett, Greer Todd and George Karabatsos.

Touchdown!

Feed and Fuel donates $1,000 to Pop Warner

Almaden Feed and Fuel sparked excitement at the Almaden Valley Pop Warner Football League game this past Sunday at Pioneer High School. “Momma” Linda Guzman, manager of the Feed and Fuel, and Jenn Foster-Donaghay presented Jeannine Henry, Almaden Valley Youth Athletic Association fundraiser director and Kevin Hubbard, Pee Wee assistant head coach with a $1,000 check. The donation was collected on Sept. 18 from 20 percent of the food and beverage tab at the restaurant. Foster-Donaghay commented they were a bit short of the total amount but John Carson, owner of the Feed and Fuel told them “to round it up.”

Almaden Pop Warner Pee Wee representatives gather around to accept the Feed and Fuel donation for their football players and cheerleaders: (left to right back row) Kevin Hubbard, Assistant Head Coach “Momma” Linda Guzman, manager of Almaden Feed and Fuel, Jeannine Henry, fundraiser director and Jenn Foster-Donaghay.

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Do you have a sports story to share? Contact the sports department at 494-7000 x 217 or by e-mail at diego@timesmediainc.com or fax to Almaden Times Sports at 494-7078.