This past Friday (December 9th, 2022), MVC’s girls soccer team won their first game of the season in a tough, aggressive battle against the St. Francis Sharks. Previously, under former head coach and beloved history teacher, Mr. Dibble, the Mustangs had a successful season, making it all the way to the CCS semi-finals before falling to Salinas High. After graduating four seniors and hiring new head coach, John Martin, the Mustangs had a rough start in the Watsonville High tournament, losing three out of their first four matches and ending in a tie against SLV. However, on Friday, they rebounded, to beat the Sharks 3-0. As a Co-Captain with Amanda Pasag, Alex Keldsen, Alexa Malasapina, and Ashlyn Hoffman, Junior Julia Reiland scored the first goal off of a perfect cross from Kailyn Kaiser. Then, from an assist from Julia, Freshman Mathea Marcucci headed the ball to put the Mustangs up 2-0. To seal the deal, Maia Kilinski volleyed the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to make the score 3-0. In an interview, Julia Reiland stated that, “I felt we really connected this game. We were able to communicate with others, move off the ball, move into open space for a ball, send through balls for a cross, and stay calm with the ball at our feet. The first half was a little slow, but we came out much better in the second half and executed well.” The Mustangs are still a young team, made up of mostly freshman, sophomores, and junior. No doubt, the flu and RSV viruses along with finals week and being a younger team have impacted the Mustangs’s first few games. Thankfully, the season is still young as well and the team still hopes to get a spot in CCS. As Julia Reiland stated, “Our goal from the beginning of the season is to make it to CCS. We have made it to CCS in previous years, but never made it past the semi-finals. We have developed a mindset that we are going to make it to CCS. We stay positive with one another and encourage everyone on and off the field. We are still adjusting to learning how to play with everyone, but I believe in this team and I believe that we have so much potential to make it to CCS.” The Mustangs hope to continue their winning streak against Harbor on Monday night and at their next home game against Sobrato High on Wednesday December 14th. Come at 7pm on Wednesday to support the team!