The men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams are similar in at least three ways – they are coming off of winning seasons, they have returning head coaches, and they both made it to the first round of NCS playoffs last year.
The teams must prepare for a new league, the WACC-12, which features powerhouse Division-I schools Berkeley High, Bishop O’Dowd, and Castro Valley High.
VARSITY WOMEN’S SOCCER
“It’s going to be a big transition year because it’s going to be a lot more competitive league,” captain senior Lauren Remer said. “We played some of these [Division-I] teams once last year out of league, but now we’re going to play these competitive teams twice in league.”
Remer predicts that Bishop O’Dowd and Castro Valley will pose the greatest challenge. Piedmont lost to O’Dowd last year.
The women’s team, which finished second in league last year, graduated their most experienced defenders and also a pair of forwards, but Remer said she expects the new players to step up.
Remer said the team did not lose too many players overall, and the team is very young.
“I think we have strong players in all positions,” Remer said. “We have a really consistent defense, so that will be our main strength.”
Goalie junior Kesy Platt said she is confident in the young team, but is expecting matchups against older, physically stronger, and more experienced opponents.
The women’s varsity team began training midway through the fall season on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays every week to get in shape. Led by Remer and Platt, the players ran track workouts and strengthened their bodies through core training. Regardless of the sub-par turnouts at the optional practices, Remer said that most players were busy with club practices, and were still improving their soccer skills.
The women’s team started last season strong, but faded with a losing record in the second half of the season. Both Platt and Remer attribute the decline to the Winter Break, during which many players go on vacation and cannot maintain their skills.
“People got out of it mentally,” Platt said. “They took a break over vacation, and that’s the time when people disconnect.”
Remer said she will encourage teammates to work on their own during Winter Break so that they do not lose their soccer mindset and fall out of shape.
Platt committed earlier this fall to play Division-II soccer at Sonoma State University. Although the pressure to get into college is lowered in terms of SATs and grades, Platt said her motivation to improve has not wavered.
“It makes me want to work harder because my coaches from Sonoma will be coming to a lot of my games,” Platt said. “And I enjoy [the game] so I put a lot of effort into it.”
VARSITY MEN’S SOCCER
The men’s soccer team is also facing escalated competition in the new WACC-12 league. Senior captains Charlie Hanf and Justin Roach said Bishop O’Dowd, one of their toughest opponents, may become a new league rival.
The Highlanders finished with an 8-6-4 overall record and a 7-1-3 league record, which brought them to the first round of NCS playoffs against Dublin High School. Hanf said the team has since improved on defense because last year’s defensive squad consisted only of first year starters.
“We will be much more balanced, and we have a lot more veteran players,” said Hanf, who plays center back.
Men’s head coach David Villalobos said the return of the defense will allow the team to focus on building their offense.
“[The defense] is already going to be confident, they know each other, and all we are going to have to do is build off of them,” Villalobos.
The head coach said the team is also strong in one versus one situation, set pieces for free kicks, and speed on offense.
“We’re going to utilize our height and technical ability,” he said.
Villalobos has seen a decrease in the number of returning seniors on the team. Two years ago, the team had 12 seniors. Last year, there were five. This year, Hanf, Roach, and senior Alex Beisner stand as the only seniors.
“We’re going to need a lot from our seniors this year,” Villalobos said. “Our second year players also really need to step up. We’re looking for players like [junior] Zack Henrikson, [junior] Irvin Xu to start turning things up and taking control of the offense.”
Villalobos said defending league champions Hayward High may pose the toughest challenge this year in league.
The team’s biggest change will come at the goalie position, which is open after two-year starter Eric Huppert graduated. Junior Corey Collier, a returning varsity member, is positioned to become the team’s starting goalie.
The men’s squad also held captains’ practices throughout the fall, where many younger players worked to make an impression on the veteran players.
“We have a sense of what [the underclassmen’s] playing styles are, so it’ll be a lot smoother transition into the season,” said Roach, who plays left and right back.
The captains encouraged students to attend PHS soccer games, though they are often at night in the cold and sometimes in the rain.
“It helps a lot to have support of fans,” Roach said.
Hanf added that spectators will also be able to enjoy seeing Roach’s marble white thighs.