Is it possible for a team to go unbeaten and not win its league title outright?
The answer is yes, and it could happen to the Los Gatos High School girls’ soccer team, which currently sits at 6-0-4 in De Anza League play with two games remaining.
Monta Vista sits atop the standings at the moment, but the Matadors have wrapped up their DAL season with a 7-1-4 record (18 points). Los Gatos has 16 points, but two wins over Gunn next week will give it 20 and the league title outright.
But two more ties — which would still leave the Cats unbeaten — would leave Los Gatos tied for the league championship with Monta Vista, and probably Mountain View as well.
Coach Jan Nordmo will undoubtedly remind his girls that they can’t take Gunn (1-7-1) lightly this week. They need to win. The teams will play Tuesday at Gunn and Wednesday at Los Gatos.
Los Gatos could have wrapped up the title last week against Monta Vista, but the Matadors held off Los Gatos rush after Los Gatos rush and earned a 1-1 tie. It was the second time this season that the two teams battled to a draw.
Monta Vista would score first when a deflected clear attempt by Megan Fee bounced right to a Monta Vista forward, whose shot found its way past Los Gatos keeper Heather Rouhier, who was looking directly into a bright sun.
The score remained 1-0 until, with five minutes left in the game, Los Gatos’ dynamic duo of Taylor Comeau and Brianne Medved went to work. Medved hit a streaking Comeau with a through pass, and the talented junior finished off the play with a goal. It was Comeau’s 17th goal of the year to go along with nine assists.
Also playing with 17 goals and nine assists was Monta Vista’s Michelle Pao, but Nordmo was pleased with how his team shut her down in the big game.
“Our style of play was a little different today, both in shape and personnel on the field,” said Nordmo. “We felt that Monta Vista would be challenged by our different look, and sure enough we kept them back most of the game. Michelle Pao was contained, and we knew that they would not be as dangerous without her influence.”
Nordmo praised the play of Eugenia Lin, Melissa Johns and Melissa Heng in helping to keep Pao at bay.
“We also were aggressive in our defense and attacking tactics,” said Nordmo. “It is unfortunate that some of the balls we played in did not have the extra bounce needed to give us the win.”
Earlier in the week, the bounces were there in a 3-1 win over Palo Alto. Los Gatos jumped out in front with two first-half goals, added another early in the second half and held on for the win.
It took just four minutes for the Cats to get on the board when Comeau and Medved teamed up again. This time it was Comeau feeding Medved, who launched a diagonal rocket off the crossbar and beyond the goal line.
Nordmo said there was some question as to whether it was a goal or not, with Palo Alto obviously lobbying for the latter. With the referee out in the field of play and unable to get a good look, the side official stepped in and ruled that the ball had indeed crossed the goal line.
Palo Alto appeared to have tied the game moments later, but the play was ruled off sides. At the 11-minute mark, Los Gatos made it 2-0 when Lin scored from just inside the 18-yard mark after Medved spotted her making an outside run from the right side.
Los Gatos appeared to score early in the second half when freshman Katrina Voris put the ball in the net, but she, too, was ruled off sides.
Moments later, however, the Cats would score for real when Voris spotted an open Comeau, who put home the final Los Gatos goal.
Nordmo praised the play of midfielders Fee and Mariah Cleveland, who he said played outstanding games.
“Each player defended and broke down the Palo Alto advances,” he said.
Nordmo also singled out the play by center backs Chloe Mason and Kelly Hoose, who both helped anchor a near flawless Los Gatos back line.
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