This year, the girls’ soccer team moved from the El Camino League to the De Anza League. Head Coach Juan Mayora is optimistic about this year’s season due to the team’s success at last year’s El Camino League championship.

The players are excited about the challenges they will face this season. “Coming from the lower division and with new additions to the varsity team, it will be a tough season, but I think we will be able to stay in the De Anza division,” junior Sabina Sood said.

The team is sticking to a rigorous preseason schedule to get ready for the year. “We will start with the Palo Alto Tournament where we will be playing strong teams,” Mayora said.

Tryouts began as soon as the winter season started in anticipation of the team’s first scrimmage with Menlo Atherton on Nov. 15 which the girls won the scrimmage 2-1.

The team lost their backup goalkeeper in the transition from last year to this year. “The team is still young since 85 percent of the girls will be juniors,” Mayora said. “I do not have many spots open for new players.”

Because a large number of players are returning, the team is confident in its abilities. “I think our team works really well together because we’ve been together for so long,” junior Kelly McKenna said.

The team will rely on a simple but time-tested philosophy. “Team work will be the key to our success with all the players playing together for the same goal,” Mayora said.

Mayora hopes the team receives more support from fans. “I would like to invite the school student body and faculty to come out and support the team,” he said.

—Ann Abraham

This year’s boys’ soccer team starts with high expectations, hoping to relive its finish as first in the 2003 Central Coast Section (CCS) championship. “I made it very clear to everyone from the beginning that our goal this year is to win the CCS championship,” varsity boys soccer coach Frank Ruccolo said. “We definitely have the talent, we can do it and we will work hard to achieve this goal. I want Gunn to get back to the elite program it had when it competed at a high level and won championships.”

The team hopes to redeem itself from last year’s 5-9-5 record. “Last year, the team started off the first half of the season with a losing record and it appeared that it would be relegated to the lower league.” Ruccolo said.

One of the team’s keys to victory this year will be its teamwork. “We don’t have any superstars on our team, but we do have a lot of talented players who are willing to work very hard to have a successful season,” Ruccolo said.

The team remains confident despite losing players. “Even though we did lose key players who graduated last year, we still have a lot of talent on the team this year,” junior Sean Parshad said.

Not only is the team mentally ready, but they are also physically fit. “At the beginning of the year, varsity players take and must pass the Cooper test, which is two miles in 12 minutes,” Ruccolo said. “We play small-sided games to improve their tactical and ball control skills and the demanding one-on-one games, demonstrating the players’ tenacity in both offensive and defensive skills.”

The team played its first game against Mountain View at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 16, and will have its first home game against Saint Ignatius on Dec. 3.

—Jeffrey Wang