The MVLA Lightning U16 ('95/'96) girls team is a competitive, CYSA-North soccer team based in Mountain View/Los Altos, California. The Lightning girls have won the US Youth Soccer National Championship (2010), the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championship (2010), the Far West Regional League Fall Championship (2011, 2010, 2009), the CalNorth State Cup Championship (2011, 2009, 2007) and the Nike Surf Cup Championship (2011, 2008). The team will be competing in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) beginning in the 2012-13 season.

Los Altos, CA ...  With high school soccer behind them, the Lightning girls resumed practice and games in order to regain their FWRL League Championship form.  They used the preliminary round of State Cup games to get their feet wet (literally in the rain at Morgan Hill) and hone their possession style.  The Santa Clara Sporting Green, East Madera Sharpshooters and Elk Grove FC '96 Navy each got a chance to dethrone the reigning State Cup Champs.  However, the MVLA girls had something else in mind.  Elk Grove went down 10-0 in an onslaught that included 5 goals from Gabby Kaplan (similar to Lionel Messi's recent feat).  The Santa Clara Sporting Green couldn't contain the Lightning attack in their 3-0 defeat.  The Sharpshooters were a little off target as the Lightning girls handed them a 3-0 loss.  Jacq and Gal did a great job of keeping the Lightning net clean in the rain and gusting winds. Next up will be a true test as Lightning travels to Las Vegas to face some of the top-ranked teams in the nation.  The schedule at the Las Vegas Players Showcase is:

FRIDAY, MARCH 23:  vs. Leahi SC Premier '96 (HI) @ 3:30 p.m.  Bettye Wilson #7

SATURDAY, MARCH 24:  vs. Richmond Kickers (VA) @ 11:00 a.m.  Kellogg Zaher #9

SATURDAY, MARCH 24:  vs. Slammers FC 95ECNL (SoCal) @ 6:30 p.m.  Bettye Wilson #8

SUNDAY, MARCH 25:  vs. Rochester FC (NY) @ 9:20 a.m.  Kellogg Zaher #2

Come out and support the Lightning girls!

Palo Alto, CA ... From the Thanksgiving break through early March, most of the Lightning players enjoy playing soccer for their high schools.  Several Lightning players won the coveted CCS Championships for their schools.  Jaye Boissiere was named WBAL MVP by her league and was instrumental for Menlo School's Division III CCS Championship.  Gabby Matulich played a key role throughout the season (when not called to the U17 and U15 Womens National Camps) for Archbishop Mitty High, which were crowned Co-Champions in the Division II CCS Championship.  Falling short in their quest for a 3rd-in-a-row Division I CCS Championship, St. Francis High fell in pks in the Semifinals after a 0-0 OT score.  Representing St. Francis were: Jacquelyn Caginia, Melissa Fulton, Megan Keeth, Caroline Olivero and Paige Crowley. Reaching the Quarterfinals were Castilleja (Gabby Kaplan), Carlmont High (Melissa Wood), and Homestead High (Caitlyn Wong).  Congratulations to the 2012 All-Daily News Girls Soccer Team selections:

First Team:  Jaye Boissiere, Jacquelyn Caginia

Second Team: Gabby Kaplan

Third Team: Julia Goupil, Sarah Robinson

Honorable Mention: Zoe Pacalin

Albertin Montoya, MVLA's Director of Coaching and coach of the Lightning since their inception, has been named to lead the U-17 Womens National Team. After years of coaching youth soccer, collegiate soccer (volunteer assistant roles at Stanford and Santa Clara) and with the FC Gold Pride professional team, Albertin has been tasked with taking the WNT program to higher levels.  Congratulations to Albertin. His professional bio is here.