SV girls soccer off to hot start

Young St. Vincent soccer players grow up into dominating seniors.|

The St. Vincent High School girls soccer players are no longer young, and they may be even better than the team that battled its way to the finals of the North Coast Section Division V finals last season.

The Mustang team seems to be annually described as “young.” Not this year. Coach Kevin Richardson has nine seniors on his 19-player roster.

“I might have to take a loan out to buy flowers for Senior Night,” Richardson jokes.

The coach is still sorting things out as the Mustangs hit the field galloping. Before the North Central League II season is finished, the Mustangs will need contributions from all their players. Three new teams - Mendocino, Credo from Rohnert Park and Rincon Valley Christian - have been added to the league.

The good news is that St. Vincent has good depth, and Richardson has been able to give all his players game experience.

“I like to give all the girls playing time when I can,” the coach says.

So far there has been ample opportunity for all the Mustangs to participate. Going into this week’s play, St. Vincent has won its first eight games without a miscue, and most by substantial margins. Last week the Mustangs defeated Upper Lake, 8-0, and Anderson Valley, 7-0.

Scoring has come from multiple sources. Sophomore forward Athena Edwards averages better than two goals a game and senior Katie Gross isn’t far behind. Two young players, sophomore Isabella Welsh and Avani Chauhan, the only freshman on the team, are also seeing playing time at forward.

St. Vincent’s midfielders - Nella Gross, Grace Hosbeing, Madsy Nielsen, Elizabeth Nielsen and Erin Shurtz - have all been helping with the goal making as well as turning in strong defensive efforts.

Seniors Neila Gross, Katie’s twin sister, and Grace Hosbein are expected to be key team leaders as the season progresses toward the playoffs.

Defensively, St. Vincent has juniors Julia Murphy and Shelby Murphy, sophomore Emma Riley and three outstanding seniors, Grace Pedersen, Lauren Vollert and Rebecca Wolf.

They play in front of two talented goalies, senior Clare Galten and junior Siana Jimenez.

The players are experienced and talented enough to put into practice the three components Richardson says are necessary for success.

“The keys are good ball movement, good pressure on the ball defensively and good communication,” he explains. The Mustangs do all three well.

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