Morgan Hill – The Sobrato girls soccer team is still putting together the final pieces to its team that will have two key differences starting this season.
First is the Bulldogs’ head coach, Stephanie Pearson.
Pearson, who recently graduated from San Diego State University, will take the reins for Sobrato leading into its second key difference: It is moving to the Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division.
The girls will be moving over from the Tri County Athletic League, where they finished 4-7-1 in league play and 6-10-2 overall last year.
Pearson said she is confident that her girls are responding well to her coaching style and will be ready for the new competition.
“My coaching style is very intense,” Pearson said. “We are never going to lose any games because we were not fit enough.”
Pearson said the girls have been willing to work and willing to learn.
“This is a remarkable group of girls,” Pearson said. “They are like little sponges – they soak up everything.”
Pearson said she is still waiting on five players to finish with cross country, including two starters – Ashley Grose, who was last year’s leading goal scorer, and Melina Silva. Pearson said she will also be playing a freshman, Laura Angulo.
One of the things Pearson said she has been impressed with is how the girls get along.
“They work hard and they get along really well, which is rare at the high school level,” Pearson said.
Pearson said she has already seen the hard work pay off, as noted by a comment she received from a referee at the end of the Sobrato win against North Salinas.
“At the end of the (North) Salinas game, the ref came up to me and asked, ‘Are you supposed to be this good or was this an accident?'” Pearson said. “No, they are supposed to be this good.”
After two games, the Bulldogs hold a 1-0-1 record.
