BY HEIDI ZENEFSKI
Sports Correspondent

Montrose girls’ soccer coach John Cherundolo, head coach of the Montrose Lady Meteors found himself in a unique situation at the start of the season. What to do with a varsity team full of freshmen players.

There are 14 freshmen on the Lady Meteors team and only six upperclassmen, but that hasn’t stopped the team from doing well on the field. As of Oct. 3, the team was undefeated this season, and a lot of that success has to do with the freshmen players – eight of whom are starters.

The Montrose girls’ took a double overtime win last week over Holy Cross, a team that was undefeated until they played the Lady Meteors.

“Our team is made almost entirely of freshmen and we are still able to compete. Seeing the look on other people’s faces when they say, ‘Wow! Those are freshmen?’ is really great.” says Rachel Sorensen.

The group has been playing soccer since they were young and plan to stick together through their senior year.

Midfielder Michayla Stahl said the her fellow teammate all “goof around together, but then we work hard and play hard.”

Forward Maddy Gilhool agrees, “I think it’s that we really connect as a team. We have a good time but we definitely know how to focus when the game is on.”

“Because we have been playing together for a long time, we know how each other is going to play,” Harper Andre adds.

Gilhool says, “I like that soccer is not like other sports. It’s so much harder to score a goal and it’s truly a competition.”

Emily Pasteka adds “I like that it’s a contact sport. I enjoy getting out there fighting for the ball.”

“There’s no timeouts. You have to go out there prepared to play. You can’t see how the other team is playing first and then call a timeout and fix it.” Gabby Davis also said, “It’s a big stress reliever. I can go out there and get any anger or frustration out.”

The teammates have goals for their coming playing years – which include staying together as a group, reaching the district level for four consecutive years, and even making it to states.

The girls really enjoy playing for Coach Cherundolo. Gabby Baker said, “He’s really fun and cool. Most of us know him because he was our teacher in 6th grade.”

All but one of the freshmen members attended Lathrop Street Elementary where Cherundolo was a teacher until his retirement. Gabby Davis is the one exception – she attended Choconut Valley Elementary.

The girls have not yet faced the teams they feel will be their biggest competition this year – Mountain View and Lakeland. They faced Lakeland on Monday, Oct. 5 at home; and play Mountain View on Thursday, Oct. 15.

They are quick to point out that they aren’t scared of those teams, but know they will need to “put forth our best effort against them.” Gilhool said.
“It’s definitely going to be an interesting next four years,” Cherundolo said.