The girls lacrosse team is off on a positive note, leading the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) through nine games. The team’s overall record is 11-4 with losses to Sacred Heart Preparatory High School, Saint Francis High School, San Ramon Valley High School and most recently Mountain View High School.

We’re just starting to get our team dynamic and starting to get our feel of lacrosse.

Emma Staiger

Sophomore

In the team’s four losses, a lack of smooth transitions was the main reason for their failure. Chasing the ball across mid-field to the offense quickly proved difficult against the opponent’s defense in losses.

“The losses we had were at the beginning of the season when we were just starting to get our team dynamic and starting to get our feel of lacrosse,” sophomore Emma Staiger said.

The three losses had little impact on the team’s current playoff future, as all losses were out of league games. There have not been Central Coast Sectional (CCS) playoffs yet in lacrosse, so the out of league losses are not going to result in a low seeding. Only games against other SCVAL teams will determine the girls’ seeding in league play.

In the team’s most recent game against Saint Francis, Paly was victorious. The team has learned to work together and become much stronger.

In SCVAL, Paly has a strong first place lead with a record of 8-0. Second place, Leland High School, gave Paly trouble in their first game, with a final score of 13-12,  with Paly ultimately winning.

“They have some players that are very fast and they have good sick skills,” Staiger said.

To prevent the quick pace of Leland, Paly attempted to target their elite players. Once the top players are shut down, the pace Leland plays at slows down to a rate at which Paly can defeat.

“Tensions are fairly high,” Staiger said. “They definitely want to see Palo Alto fall but we are not about to let that happen.”

The team’s great start puts them on track to repeat last year’s stellar performance. Last season, Paly girls varsity went undefeated in leagues and earned a league championship title. Despite one league loss, Paly looks to win the championship.

The team finished the season 18-1, with one close loss to St. Francis High School.