The competition within the Bay Area is wide open
Football is having a moment within the Bay Area.
The Earthquakes recently hired former US national team coach Bruce Arena. NWSL expansion club Bay FC reached the playoffs in its first yr, bringing league runner-up Washington to the brink of elimination in a quarterfinal game.
At the highschool level, the Bay Area produced a few of Northern California's best teams last season, six of which were placed within the strongest group for the NorCal playoffs.
St. Francis, which won the Central Coast Section Division I title, was a No. 1 seed within the eight-team regional tournament, followed by a No. 3 seed San Ramon ValleyNo. 4 Archbishop Mitty, No. 6 Leigh, No. 7 Amador Valley and No. 8 Carondelet.
Three Bay Area teams advanced to the semifinals, where Mitty defeated St. Francis 3-2 and SRV fell 2-1 to runner-up Del Oro-Loomis.
Could this season be just as strong?
Mitty won the NorCal title on penalties and may contend again, as he often does under longtime coach JT Hanley. The Monarchs return as juniors Murphy Walsha West Catholic Athletic League pure midfielder last season, will lead the offense for a repeat.
St. Francis returns all-league player at junior defenseman Caitlin Motil and senior striker Kamryn Rosa.
SRV won the North Coast Section Division I title last season but lost its senior all-league trio Ella Beardslee, Sami Schulz And Lauren Kealy.
IS EBAL THE DEEP LEAGUE?
The East Bay Athletic League sent nine of its 10 teams to the NCS playoffs last season. San Ramon Valley got hot late and won the NCS Division I title over Carondelet. The Wolves haven’t had a losing season under coach Mark Jones since he took office in 2009. … Carondelet has made it to the NCS Division I title game three years in a row, winning the championship in 2022 and 2023. Cal Poly is committed Samantha Walker will try to guide Carondelet to its third NCS Division I title in 4 years. … Amador Valley won the EBAL regular season and tournament titles last season. Midfielder moving to Washington Maylen Montoya is the reigning EBAL Player of the Year. She will return for her senior season because the Dons seek one other shot at a CIF NorCal title. … Illinois State commits Sophia Carbone earned second-team All-EBAL honors last season and will probably be a key player for Monte Vista this winter. The Mustangs finished 12-4-3 and were the No. 3 seed within the NCS Division I playoffs. …Foothill, California, Livermore and Dougherty Valley all had solid seasons, adequate to make the playoffs a season ago to create a piece.
THE BEST OF THE REST?
homestead claimed the CCS Division II title and reached the NorCal Division II semifinals. Junior goalkeeper Myley Markley was an all-selection from the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division and is back between the posts for the Mustangs. …, The hills was the runner-up within the NCS and NorCal Division II playoffs. The Diablo Athletic League powerhouse must have one other productive season from the senior team Paige Thompsonwho scored 23 goals and 11 assists last season. … Bishop O'Dowd had an excellent season in 2023-24, reaching the NCS Division II semifinals. The Dragons' defense is once more dominated by seniors Abby Forsgren. … The cats defeated Piedmont Hills within the CCS Division III finals, and each teams are expected to be strong again this season. … In the meantime, Burlingame, The heights And Preparation for the Sacred Heart are all on the lookout for one other probability within the Division I sectional playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tallulah Alatorre, St. Mary's-Berkeley, senior
Claire Anderson, Harker, senior, forward
Shannon Bennitt, Sacred Heart Prep, senior, goalkeeper
Kennadi Borg, Leigh, senior, midfielder
Amaya Cabrales, Newark Memorial, senior
Rylan Cashman, Fremont-Sunnyvale, senior
Kalea Dwelle, Mountain View, Sr
Nayeli Garcia, San Leandro, senior, defense
Baylee Gregerson, Heritage, Sr
Anya Lin, Los Altos, senior
Megan McCormack, Sequoia, senior
Annika Park, Leland, senior, midfielder
Brooklyn Pierce, Freedom, Senior
Allison Saravia, Jesse Bethel, Sr
Sierra Troy, Aragon, senior
Destani Twiggs, pioneer, striker, senior
Mariam Yusuf, Woodside, Sr
Bay Area News Group Preseason Top 10
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
#1 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (21-2-1 last season)
Here's the way it ended: Defeated Del Oro 0-0 (5-3) within the CIF NorCal championship game.
Season opener: Dec. 3 vs. Sequoia, 3:30 p.m
No. 2 ST. FRANCIS (20-2-2 last season)
How it ended: Captured the CCS Division I championship with a 2-1 win over Mitty. Lost to Mitty 3-2 in CIF NorCal Division I semifinals.
Season opener: December sixth against Los Altos, 5:30 p.m
No. 3 SAN RAMON VALLEY (19-4-2 last season)
Here's the way it ended: Beat Carondelet 2-1 within the NCS Division I championship game. Lost to Del Oro 2-1 within the CIF NorCal Division I semifinals.
Season opener: December 18 against Castro Valley, 6:30 p.m
No. 4 LEIGH (18-2-1 last season)
How it ended: Loss to San Ramon Valley in the primary round of the CIF NorCal Division I playoffs.
Season opener: December third against Los Altos, 6 p.m
No. 5 MOUNTAIN VIEW (14-4-4 last season)
How it ended: 1-0 loss to Homestead within the CCS Division II title game.
Season opener: December third against Westmont, 6 p.m
No. 6 CARONDELET (17-6-4 last season)
How it ended: Lost 2-0 to St. Francis in the primary round of the CIF NorCal Division I playoffs.
Season opener: December nineteenth against St. Francis, 6 p.m
No. 7 AMADOR VALLEY (12-3-1 last season)
How it ended: Lost to Del Oro 0-0 (4-3) in the primary round of the CIF NorCal Division I playoffs.
Season Opening: December eleventh in Livermore, 6 p.m
No. 8 HOMESTEAD (15-6-2 last season)
How it ended: Won the CCS Division II title after a 1-0 win over Mountain View. Lost 2-0 to St. Francis-Sacramento within the CIF NorCal Division II semifinals.
Season opening: December third at Christopher, 6 p.m
No. 9 LAS LOMAS (19-3-4 last season)
How it ended: Lost to Granite Bay 3-2 within the NorCal Division II semifinals.
Season opening: December third at Vintage, 7 p.m
No. 10 LOS GATOS (14-7-4 last season)
How it ended: Won the CCS Division III title with a 2-1 win over Piedmont Hills. Lost 1-0 to Rio Americano within the CIF NorCal Division III semifinals.
Season opener: December third against Leland, 7 p.m
Editor's note: The teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues primarily situated in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization's highschool staff selects the teams.
image credit : www.mercurynews.com