After losing 8 starters to graduation, some would expect  our Team NorCal GHS Elite to be in a rebuilding year.  However, after working out a few kinks at the Pride Invitational tournament in Dublin June 10-11, our GHS Elite team has picked up right where last year's team left off and have definitely proven themselves a force with which to be reckoned.  They not only upheld the strong historical reputation our Team NorCal Elite program has established, but also developed confidence and team chemistry so vital to a team’s success.

Team Success…

Team NorCal GHS Elite went undefeated two weekends in a row on the East Coast: 3-0-1 at the IWLCA Champions Cup in MD, and 4-0 at the IWLCA New England Cup in MA. 

Team Chemistry…

A focus of this team is teamwork on both offense and defense, as in the midfield.  Of the 121 goals we scored over the two tournaments, 79 were assisted (65%).  Of the 18-player roster, 11 different players scored goals in each tournament, and 9 and 11 different players tallied assists in each tournament.  Way to spread the wealth!

The Midfield unit was likewise a lesson in collaboration, working together and strategizing and out-hustling to win close to 75% of the Draws.  Draw Specialists (veterans Sofia Niklaus and Luci Caron, and with the addition of Haleh Ansari) collaborated with the Circle Middies (Ellie Shen, Kylie Jones, and Attacker Katie Lin) to earn 96 Draw Possessions and Controls.

The Defensive unit, anchored by goalies Lauren Hajadi and Leila Velez and defenders Leah Bei and Chayce Milheim, kept the opponents’ offenses from scoring.  Team NorCal Goalies plus Leah, Chayce, and also Liv Caron, Agata Fin, and Haleh Ansari were a major force in limiting the opponents’ goals to 23 over the course of the two tournaments.

Next up: Western Shootout in Colorado Springs, and IWLCA West Coast Cup in Morgan Hill.

Here’s to our Team NorCal Girls’ continued success!

Offensive Stats…

Champions Cup Stat Leaders…

Top Point Scorers = Sofia Niklaus (21), Sam Leavitt (17), Kylie Jones and Lucy Kovacevich (11 and 10, respectively).

Most Goals = Sofia Niklaus (18), Kylie Jones (9), Ellie Shen and Luci Caron (8 and 7, respectively).

Most Assists = Sam Leavitt (15) and Lucy Kovacevich (8).

New England Cup Stat Leaders…

Top Point Scorers = Sofia Niklaus (15), Sam Leavitt (14), Tessa Espinosa and Lizzie Uppington (each with 12), and Kylie Jones and Lucy Kovacevich (11 and 10, respectively).

Most Goals = Sofia Niklaus (14), Tessa Espinosa (9), and Kylie Jones (8).

Most Assists = Lizzie Uppington (12) and Sam Leavitt (9).