2009 Athenas Soccer Preview

The women’s soccer team returned this past week to begin training for the 2009 fall season. The team returns 18 players, including senior starting keeper Camila Friedman-Gerlicz and leading scorers, junior Laura Hagen (pictured), and senior Giselle Galanto. Captains for this year’s team are seniors Friedman-Gerlicz and Nicole Sady-Kennedy. The Athenas have added six freshmen and a junior transfer. The new members are Xana Bartlett from Washington, Annie Belanger from Oakland, Julia Raney and Catherin Raney from Belvedere, Madi Shove from Portola Valley, Olivia Sylvester from Washington, and Lizzie VanBuskirk from San Rafael. The Athenas finished last season on a high note with the program’s first trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. A disappointing loss to Carleton ended their best NCAA run. However, the program did record their first NCAA success by advancing past Hardin-Simmons on PK’s and defeating UC Santa Cruz 4-0. Coach Sanchez is excited about the prospects this year, but knows it will take a lot of hard work to repeat the success of last season. The Athenas open up play at home this Friday at 4:00 pm against Pacific Lutheran.