Photo Credit: Betsy Snow

The varsity team poses in uniform.

As the sports season shifts from fall to winter, the Lady Bears soccer team gear up for a much-anticipated season. Hopes are high as the team looks to improve on last year’s season. The 2009-2010 Menlo-Atherton girls’ soccer team, coming off a disappointing 2008-2009 season, look to gain respect as a perennial PAL powerhouse.

“We are older now,” said coach and AVID teacher Paul Snow. “Most of our players are upperclassmen and we have a lot more experience. Almost all of the players on our team also play soccer all year round.” Gillian Collom, Elena Kolarov, Mallory Stevens, and Tess Cain are just some of the eleven returning players looking to lead them to a PAL championship.

The team enjoyed a game with alumni soccer players from previous years last Saturday. Next, they take on their cross-town rival, the Menlo Knights. They have showed much promise and look to keep the win streak alive on Tuesday after a win against Gunn high school last week in scrimmage.

Last Tuesday, the Lady Bears took on the Gunn Titans and had an impressive first showing. They prevailed with a score of 4-0. Jennifer Kirst led the way with two goals. Mallory Stevens and Vanessa Renkel also had goals to help lead the Bears to victory. The Gunn Titans were shut down thanks to Tess Cain and the rest of the Bears’ stellar defense. With the win, the Menlo Atherton Bears are feeling confident and ready to take on the competitive PAL. “This win was a great way to start off the season,” declared Gillian Collom.