Through the first seven games of the season, the Los Gatos High girls soccer team showed it just might be one of the elite squads in the Central Coast Section.
Currently on break, the Wildcats are 4-1-2 overall and 0-0-1 in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division. They next play Jan. 2 at home against Homestead High. In its most recent game, Los Gatos easily handled Aptos, 3-0, receiving goals from a senior (Caitlyn Simons), a junior (Ruby Kruse) and a freshman (Maddie Kohli).
The talent in each grade level has everyone around the program excited, especially second-year coach Jessica Ingram.
“It’s great that we have goals and assists coming from everywhere on the field,” she said. “It shows we are building depth within our lineup, and not just relying on seniors and juniors to score goals, but anyone on the varsity team playing as much as possible and contributing. They just have to remember their strengths and how they add to each other.”
It’s hard to believe Los Gatos finished 1-16 just two years ago. Last season, the Wildcats turned things around in a huge way, winning the SCVAL El Camino Division championship and a Central Coast Section Division I playoff game before being ousted in double overtime in the semifinals.
Despite graduating 12 seniors off that squad—six of whom were starters—Los Gatos hasn’t missed a beat, relying on a deep reservoir of talent and chemistry and focusing on the everyday objectives to achieve results on the field.
“I think the goals and the discussion with the girls is really continuing the process we started last year of having an inclusive culture,” Ingram said. “Similar to last year, we set a long-term goal to make CCS and come in the top three, but in reality we want to take it game by game and focus on development and the ability to come together as a team. It’s a good group of girls. They’re willing to work hard, they’re very coachable and last year they really bought in to what we want as a program.”
Simons is a tremendous playmaker in the midfield and a UC Santa Barbara-commit. She’s one of three senior captains on the team along with Mckenzie Powell and defender Kate Gruetter. Ingram has lauded the trio for being solid examples for the underclassmen to model themselves after.
“The leadership within this team is very much them taking the lead with the girls and showing not only on the field, but off the field what it means to be a team player,” Ingram said. “They experienced that 1-16 season and they’ve continued to blossom into a leadership role to be positive and get the team to work together.”
Senior Ellie White and freshmen Abby Nelson and Avery Edson are part of a backline that has been downright solid, limiting the opponent’s opportunities. Returning sophomore goalie Cora Bryant has also shined, a big reason why the Wildcats have posted five shutouts and yielded just three goals in seven matches.
“Cora is playing really well and growing a lot,” Ingram said. “She’s been super important to our team. She’s been coming up big as a leader back there and I’m really excited to see her blossom in that position.”
Junior standout Macie Yannoni, sophomore Leighton Ozawa, freshman Teagan Kaefer and Simons have excelled in the midfield. Yannoni is a returning starter and a key component in helping the team switch the field on a moment’s notice.
Kohli and sophomore Jordan Park have made immediate impacts up top. The deep and talented roster also includes Isabella Ramos, Maci Schwab, Darcy Armstrong, Gracie Sloan and Adrienne Lopez.
“We have a good group of freshmen that came in and brought fresh energy and a senior class that has led the group,” Ingram said. “The experience from last year provided the seniors wisdom of what it looked like two years ago and where we are today. The team is a great blend of personnel, work ethic and a wanting to do it together which is the biggest key.”
