Four years ago, Christy Musselmann was a JV field hockey coach
with a bunch of talented freshmen who showed promise. This year,
Musselmann is a second-year varsity coach and those freshmen are
the core of Live Oak High
’s field hockey squad that is poised for a run at the Blossom
Valley Athletic League (Santa Teresa division) title.
Four years ago, Christy Musselmann was a JV field hockey coach with a bunch of talented freshmen who showed promise.
This year, Musselmann is a second-year varsity coach and those freshmen are the core of Live Oak High’s field hockey squad that is poised for a run at the Blossom Valley Athletic League (Santa Teresa division) title.
With eight returning seniors, Musselmann said this season should be a fun one for the Acorns and their fans, and especially her.
“I’m kind of excited because I’m getting to finish up with them in their senior year this season,” Musselmann said. “Our chances of winning are very strong. It’s up to the girls. They just have to want it.”
Among the eight senior returners are team captain Eileen Grove and goalie Kassandra Souza, along with Samantha Ferry, Katie Keyser, Kaitlyn McHargue, Lauren Devine, Paris Rowan, and Kristen Galione.
All of them played on last season’s team that finished fourth in the BVAL’s Santa Teresa division.
After a slow start, last season’s team came on at the end of the year, chalking up an upset victory over BVAL rival Monta Vista of Cupertino in the season finale.
(Monta Vista went on to have a successful run in the section playoffs.)
“Last year we just didn’t get going fast enough,” Musselmann said.
This season, it’s the Acorns who are positioned to make a run in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
One factor in their favor is that last season’s division champion, Saratoga, has moved up to a higher division this season.
But Live Oak will still have its hands full with teams like Leland, Monta Vista and St. Ignatius.
The Acorns begin BVAL division play by hosting Del Mar on Friday, Sept. 17.
LOHS girls tennis
With just two returning seniors on his roster, Live Oak High girls tennis coach Ignacio Herrera has few illusions about his team’s chances to win a league team title.
But since it’s fortunate that the team even exists, Herrera is staying positive about his team this season.
“We have a lot of players who have never played before but they show potential,” Herrera said.
Live Oak is led by sophomores Shaila Patel and Rachelle Abbey, both of whom played on the varsity as freshmen last season.
They will play the top two singles positions for the Acorns, Herrera said.
Last season, Patel played No. 3 singles and Abbey played No. 1 doubles.
In addition, Herrera said senior newcomer Katie Renteria has shown promise so far in preseason practice.
Live Oak begins regular season play at the Tri-County Athletic League Singles Jamboree at North Salinas on Tuesday, Sept. 14, then hosts the League Doubles Jamboree on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
The Acorn tennis program was cut, along with golf and diving, last year but the LO boosters club raised money to keep the programs going.
