The MVLA Lightning U13 ('95/'96) girls team is a competitive, Class 1 CYSA soccer team based in Los Altos, California. The Lightning girls are the 2009 Cal-North State Cup Champions, 2008 Nike Surf Cup Champions & 2008 Nike Mustang Stampede Champions. The team is professionally trained and coached by Erin and Albertin Montoya (current Head Coach of the Women's Professional team - FC Gold Pride). The team plays less than 60 total games, including scrimmages, in a 12 month period. In the 2009-2010 season the Lightning girls will play District 2 Abronzino fall league, U14 Premier Group of Far West Regional League, Surf Cup and CYSA State Cup. The team plays year round and is always interested in talking to players who want to take their game to the next level with intense fitness training and focus on developing their entire game. (MVLA: Mountain View-Los Altos)

Las Vegas, NV ... Lightning finished up their bracket play against the Nevada State Cup Champions, Neusport Green, and against the Tucson Soccer Academy from Arizona. The weather was very hot on the artificial turf but the girls came out to play hard and give their best for the final two preliminary games. Saturday morning, they ended in a 0-0 tie against Neusport and in the afternoon, pulled off an impressive 5-0 win over the Arizona TSA team. Two of the girls returned to play after weeks off due to injury. Everyone was glad to see Caroline and Mari back out on the field. GabbyK and Jaye remain sideline and their returns are still 'tbd'.  The fans can't wait to get the entire team healthy and playing together. Hopefully the Lightning results in the preliminary round matches will solidify their chance of making it to the final round-robin championship round in Temecula, CA, the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. 4 wins and 1 tie should be enough to advance.

In the games this weekend in Las Vegas, the MVLA production crew outdid themselves, broadcasting the match through G-SNAP as well as using live streaming video using Ustream.  The Lightning followers unable to make the trip to Vegas were given a chance to watch the girls in action, with audio and G-SNAP feedback.  The reviews were very positive and it looks like this same technology will be employed in future travel matches.

Good Luck to Lightning as they now resume D2 Fall league play and start preparing for the State ODP Playdates. Keep up the good work Ladies !

Morgan Hill, CA ... The Lightning girls are off to an impressive start for the beginning of the 2009-2010 season. With one summer tournament under their belt (Surf Cup) and the first round of preliminary games of the Far West Regional League (FWRL) completed, the girls are getting into a rhythm.  The intensity has certainly ratcheted back up with the return of Lightning starters - GabbyK, Melissa and Jess - who were all sidelined due to major injuries (broken leg, cracked vertebra and torn hip flexor, respectively).  Our dear Jaye remains sidelined :(  The infusion of new talent brought on to the team with the addition of Marissa, Celeste, Ariana and GabbyM have given Coach Erin unlimited new player rotation options. While struggling during Surf Cup to find the back of the net - a few scoreless ties in quarterfinals and semifinals, their shooting accuracy was back on for the first weekend of FWRL play in Morgan Hill. Six different players scored in the opening weekend to see Lightning light up the boards with 11 goals in 3 games. Two more games remain in the preliminary round of FWRL play which will be held on September 26th in Las Vegas, NV.  The girls are hoping for more of the same success.  District 2 Abronizino league play starts in early September so this will allow more recovery time for the injured, integration of the new players and more confidence as a team.  Good Luck in the final two FWRL prelim games. Viva Las Vegas!!

Despite the injuries and the lack of down time following Far West Regional Championships in Lancaster and the various Regional ODP Camps, Coach Erin was pleased with the early season success at Surf Cup. The 2008 Surf Champs came back to defend their title and make it all the way through to the Championship match against ... the always formidable Surf White team (a rematch of the 2008 championship match). While the girls ended up on the "other side" of the 2-1 final score, they had a terrific time in Del Mar, enjoyed playing some awesome teams (including the self-proclaimed "best team in the US") to reach the finals. They will be back in 2010!