If coach Kathy Lincoln had her way, the St. Francis High field hockey team would be playing in the Mount Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
However, league officials denied her off-season request, telling Lincoln that no team is allowed to jump from the lowest division - the West Valley - to the highest in one year.
So Lincoln and her Lancers will have to be content playing in the middle Santa Teresa Division this season. Well, not exactly content.
"We're out to prove them wrong," Lincoln said.
Last season - the team's first year in existence - St. Francis finished as co-champs of the West Valley and made it to the second round of the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Lincoln said the Lancers have made great strides since then, and she expects the team to challenge for the Santa Teresa title.
"I think we've got a good shot at winning the division," the coach said. "But St. Ignatius and Monta Vista could be right up there, too."
Although St. Francis doesn't have much experience, the team isn't lacking athletes.
"We've got some athletes," Lincoln said. "Our top 14 or 15 players are very good athletes."
The Lancers' top scorers thus far are junior Jaclyn Campi and sophomore Gina DeMaestri, both forwards. The assist leader is sophomore Jenna Long.
"Jenna's one of our better passers," Lincoln said. "She plays all over the place - the front and middle lines."
Spearheading the defense are senior Stephanie Campi, who is Jaclyn's cousin, and sophomore Stephanie Grejtak. Senior Dokesha Meacham is in goal, and Lincoln considers her one of the team's top athletes.
Lincoln has been encouraged by her squad's showing in non-league play, which included a fourth-place finish in the 30-team Willow Glen Jamboree. Last week, the Lancers tied both Prospect and Saratoga 1-1 to put their overall record at 2-1-3.
St. Francis opens division play at 3 p.m., Friday with a home game against Leland.