A return to form gives SHP girls the look of a winner

Senior co-captain Hadley Twichell figured the Sacred Heart Prep girls soccer team just needed a little time to get to know each other.

“We’ve just started to gel as a team,” she said after SHP beat Castilleja 3-1 in a West Bay Athletic League match Friday at El Camino Park. “Team bonding has also helped and we’ve also had some really talented transfer students who are now able to play and making a big difference.”

Sacred Heart Prep (7-5-1, 3-0) lost its first three games and has since earned points in eight of its past 10 matches, including the first three league matches.

Sophomore Molly Tinsley was involved with all three goals for the Gators, scoring twice and assisting senior Carly Gee on her goal. Sydney Adas recorded the assist on both of Tinsley’s goals.

While SHP is the only unbeaten team in WBAL play, both Menlo School and Notre Dame Belmont are 3-1. SHP beat Menlo and the Knights beat Notre Dame Belmont earlier in the season.

Sacred Heart Prep travels to play Norte Dame, the league’s most prolific scoring team, on Tuesday. Menlo hosts Priory and Castilleja is at home against Notre Dame San Jose.

Menlo beat Notre Dame San Jose 1-0 and Notre Dame Belmont downed Priory 5-2 in other matches Friday.

Sacred Heart Prep is on the young side this season, with Twitchell one of just four seniors. In addition to Gee, goalie Sofia Moretti and midfielder Ellie Brew are also team leaders.

SHP coach Ramiro Arredondo thinks having Twitchell back in the lineup as a defender has been an important part of the team’s turnaround.

The Gators allowed 11 goals through their first six games and have given up four over their past seven.

“I was telling the team that part of the reason is Hadley’s leadership in the back has helped organize our team in the back,” Arredondo said. “And we always try to go heavy in the beginning of the season against tougher opponents to get a sense of what we’re made of and how are we going to look when we face tough competition.”

Castilleja (4-5, 0-3) has also improved since the start of the season. In its first year back in the Foothill Division, Casti has taken its lumps and is now seeing the results of getting used to the different level.

“This was one of our better games,” Casti coach Andy Lichtblau said. “We would fall behind early and then play teams even in the second half. I thought we gave them a battle. We need to work on getting a full game out of them. They’re playing with more confidence.”

Castilleja goalie Riley Sterling certainly got a workout and was able to deal with several one-on-one situations.

Kelly Wang and Ava Mitchell also proved to be tough defenders for Casti. Serra Tulu, who scored Casti’s goal on a free kick, Grace Raymond and Olivia Nickel were among the active Casti players.

In Menlo’s victory, senior Carolina Espinosa snapped a scoreless tie with a goal in the 64th minute, assisted by Francesca Prescott, to keep the Knights close to SHP. Junior goalie Helen Barkley earned the shutout.

Santa Clara Valley Athletic League

Senior Ana Schremp scored twice and senior Elina Saab-Sundén recorded three assists as Gunn won at home, beating Homestead 4-0 on Friday.

Schremp opened the scoring midway through the first half as she connected on a Saab-Sundén corner kick.

The second and third goals followed shortly after as Saab-Sundén won balls along the right side and crossed to junior Mia Steadman for a goal before feeding freshman Andrea Lu, who scored her first goal at Gunn.

Schremp completed the scoring in the second half with a free kick from some distance. Senior goalkeeper Julia Dellenbach needed to record a single save as the collective Gunn defense held tight.

Gunn (8-3-3, 3-1-2) have two matches next week, on Wednesday at Mountain View and at home on Friday against Santa Clara.

Mountain View remained undefeated with a 4-0 win at Santa Clara. Senior Allie Montoya scored twice and has seven goals in her past three games.

Kate Stone capped a brilliant offensive game with a goal and Abby Westcott also scored.

Laila Edris had a pair of assists and Isabella Walker and Rebecca Lopez also recorded assists for the Spartans (12-0-1, 6-0). Senior goalie Sophia Sasaki made one save to record the shutout.

Elechi Iroaga led a strong defensive effort in front of Sasaki.

Menlo Park revamps its burglar alarm registration programJune 20, 2026 10:51 am

Change of plans: Research campus to leave Menlo Park, make way for more housingJune 12, 2026 6:46 pm

New study measures microplastics in the Bay smaller than human hair    June 19, 2026 2:30 pm