Communication

When the DHS women’s soccer team took on the Monterey Trail Mustangs of Elk Grove in a league game on March 29, fans expected a standard low-scoring league-type soccer score. What they got goes against all soccer convention, as DHS defeated the Mustangs at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium by a score of 8-0. DHS struck first early on, with a goal by Sarah Chase, assisted by Kalani Ratnasiri, at the four-minute mark. After several missed shots on goal, junior Natalie Ho found senior Kate Latsch by the net for a one-timer to put DHS ahead 2-0. DHS’ success in league these last few years, paired with good feel for where the open Devil might be is no coincidence, according to senior Courtney Jimenez. Jimenez is not new to the idea of success, as her sudden-death overtime goal in the section title game last year clenched the championship for the DHS women’s team. “I think our success is a result of how long we’ve been playing together. After years of playing together and having similar training backgrounds, our success is definitely a result of our long-term dedication to the game and to each other,” Jimenez said. That comfort between teammates became obvious as the game continued. After a goal by Senior Olivia Muller, junior Ellarie Hernandez outlet passed to Ho, who found junior Jenna Farboud for an easy DHS score, putting the Blue Devils up 4-0. Another one-time pass, this time by Jimenez to senior Hannah Mazet, put DHS ahead 5-0. Minutes later, Muller would score her second goal of the afternoon, to put DHS up 6-0. The third-year varsity player sat out most of the second half as the score difference widened. The easy ball movement around the field between teammates and communication is all indicative of the kind of relationship the players have off the field, according to senior Kate Latsch. “I think the difference between us and other teams is that we’re all friends off the field too,” Latsch said. “We’ve been playing together on club teams since we were like 10 years old and hanging out off the field since then too, so we’re really comfortable with talking to each other in the games and communicating.” Late in the game, senior Anna Maria Gilbertson, who will be playing soccer for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame next year, made her first appearance in a game this season. Gilbertson has been nursing a strained quad for three weeks, and has been watching her team from the sidelines all year. Following a goal by Ho late in the second half, Gilbertson began to take over, taking one unsuccessful shot on goal, missing wide right. Gilbertson adjusted her shot on the next DHS possession, scoring a late goal, and her first of the year, to make the final score 8-0 in favor of DHS. “I love how Anna comes in for like five minutes and immediately scores,” Latsch said, laughing. “It’s going to be great having her back.” DHS improved their record to 12-1 overall following the win over Monterey Trail, and gearing up to come back and play March 30 at home against non-league opponent West Campus of Sacramento.