Menlo Upends Woodside Priory

The Menlo girls' soccer team upended visiting Woodside Priory 1-0 on Thursday to take a commanding lead of the West Bay Athletic League-Foothill Division.

Thanks to Jaye Boissiere's goal with eight minutes remaining in the game and tough defense, the Knights were able to avoid a tie and defeat the lone WBAL-Foothill team to beat them this season.

The Knights improve to 8-1-0 in league and have 24 points with three games remaining. Sacred Heart Prep, which plays Priory on Saturday, stands at 6-1-1 19 points with four games left in the regular season.

"They felt pretty confident, and they wanted to prove that they're the best team in the league," Menlo coach Donoson FitzGerald said. "They've had a great attitude."

In the second half Thursday, Boissiere sent a 22-yard direct free kick from the left side to the right corner of the net.

"It was an incredible goal; it takes a special player to do that," FitzGerald said.

Juniors Julia Dressel and Kelly McConnell combined on the shutout -- Menlo's sixth consecutive.

Menlo nearly converted a corner kick late in the first half as senior Elle Laub's header of a Chandler Wickers corner was cleared off the line by a Priory post player.

Menlo came out firing in the second half and senior Sophie Sheeline's header went off the crossbar early on after two other shots on goal. Menlo kept up the pressure creating some good opportunities throughout the second half.

Defensively Menlo was led by its backs - senior Shannon Lacy, junior Hannah Rubin, senior Alex Tom, junior Rachel Pinsker, sophomore Sienna Stritter, and freshman Alexander Walker.

Menlo, which holds a 10-4-2 overall mark, plays at Mayfield Sports Complex against Castilleja at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

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