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Published on 06/29/1998 All articles from this issue

Mercury rising to the top of the soccer ranks - again

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By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

According to members of the Central Valley Mercury, only one thing can stop the girls soccer team from winning a third-consecutive national championship: themselves.

"Our only enemy is ourselves," said sweeper Anna Kraus of Mountain View.

"If we don't get overconfident, I think we can reach our goal of winning another national title," said midfielder Rachel Hoffman of Los Altos Hills.

So far, the Mercury has avoided looking past its opponents - not an easy task for a team responsible for more blowouts than a bumpy highway.

The San Jose-based Mercury put on a clinic last month at the regionals in Albuquerque, N.M. The club team out-scored its six opponents 41-1 to run away with the under-18 division.

Next up is the National Final Four, slated for July 24-26 in Phoenix, Ariz. If the Mercury wins both games, it claims an unprecedented third national crown.

At press time, the players still weren't sure who they'd be facing in the nationals. Not that they were worried about.

"We don't know what we'll be up against, and we don't really care," Kraus said. "We're more concerned with getting ourselves ready to play."

Since the nationals will be played under the blistering Arizona sun, the team is bracing for warm weather. The players often take long runs in the heat of the day - wearing heavy sweat clothes. They also play scrimmages against local women's semipro teams, which the Mercury usually beats handily.

Much to her dismay, Hoffman hasn't been able to practice at full-speed. She pulled four ligaments in a scrimmage prior to the regionals and is still traveling the road to recovery.

The injury forced the recent Gunn High graduate to see limited action in Albuquerque. Still, Hoffman scored one goal and had two assists over the six games.

"I did OK, but it wasn't easy playing with my ankle taped and a brace on it," said Hoffman, who heads to Harvard in the fall. "I'm getting physical therapy now, and my ankle should be in great shape by the nationals."

Kraus has been able to avoid the injury bug and played a key role in the Mercury's run at the regionals. She was part of a stingy defense that has dubbed itself NGP - No Goal Patrol.

The Mercury shut out its first five regional opponents, rarely giving them a good look at the goal. The lone goal scored against the Mercury came on a free kick by Littleton United in the June 27 final. The Mercury still clobbered the Colorado club, winning by an overwhelming 8-1 margin.

Kraus, a St. Francis grad who's moving on to Santa Clara University, also played a little forward in the tournament. She wound up with one goal and a pair of assists.

The 41 goals scored by the Mercury in the regionals is a team record. The squad's previous best of 35 came two years ago in Seattle. The Mercury went on to win its first national crown that year.

And according to Kraus, this year's team is the best one yet.

"I think we're definitely better than we were in the past and it showed in the games," she said.