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Published on 07/27/1998 All articles from this issue

Another season, another national title for Mercury

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By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

Knowing this would likely be their last year together, players on the Central Valley Mercury adopted a simple motto for 1998: No regrets.

The girls soccer team didn't want to look back on this season someday and regret not playing up to their potential.

They need not worry anymore.

The Mercury won an unprecedented third straight national championship July 26 in Phoenix. The team's 6-0 rout of Cosa Express in the U.S. Youth Soccer Association Under-18 title game capped an undefeated season.

"It was absolutely exciting," said midfielder Rachel Hoffman of Los Altos Hills. "We wanted to play our best, and I think we did."

Even with leading scorer Ally Wagner sidelined with a knee injury, the San Jose-based Mercury could not be stopped. The Express, from Columbus, Ohio, never really had a chance against a focused Mercury team.

"Everyone played so well together," said midfielder Kati McBain, also of Los Altos Hills. "All the practice and hard work paid off."

McBain and the Mercury's other local player, sweeper Anna Kraus of Mountain View, each contributed an assist in the final.

Goals were harder to come by in the Mercury's July 24 semifinal match, a 2-0 victory against Tophat '98 Gold of Atlanta.

"That was the best team we've faced in the two years I've been with the Mercury," Hoffman said. "Their speed matched well with ours and they pressured us a lot."

Hoffman admitted her team didn't play its best game against Tophat, though.

"We had a lapse in concentration," said Hoffman, a recent graduate of Gunn High, "We had problems taking advantage of scoring opportunities."

The Mercury proved more opportunistic against the Express, virtually putting the game away by intermission with three first-half goals.

And when the final whistle blew, the celebration began. Team members embraced, sang a rendition of "We Are The Champions" and dumped the ceremonial jug of Gatorade on coaches Vicki Wagner and Philippe Blin.

"We were all so happy because we made history," said McBain, one of two new players on the Mercury this season. "It was the best experience of my whole life."

Of the three titles Kraus has won with the Mercury, she lists the latest as the greatest.

"This one meant the most because it was so emotional," said Kraus, who played with McBain at St. Francis High. "This team is really close - we're all best friends - and knowing that this was our last game together was sad. That's why it was so important to end on top."

While players on the Mercury said they'd love to go after title No. 4 next year in the under-19 division, it isn't likely to happen. A majority of the team will be attending college when the State Cup qualifying tournament takes place next spring.

Hoffman is headed for Harvard University, while Kraus has committed to Santa Clara University. McBain, who will be a junior at St. Francis, is planning to play on another club team next season.