Menlo News December 17, 2022

Girls’ soccer wins Firebird Classic title

Knights go 4-0 to win Silver Division

The Menlo girls’ soccer team went undefeated on the way to a gritty 1-0 victory over Lincoln in the Firebird Classic Silver Division championship at Fremont High on Saturday.

The Knights went 4-0, defeating Homestead, Palo Alto, Gunn, then Lincoln, and improved to 6-1 overall.
Menlo broke a 0-0 tie with 17 minutes to go when sophomore Roya Rezaee delivered a shot after senior Hannah Gorospe fielded a high bouncing ball. Senior Sam Sellers preserved the shutout, which included a diving one-handed save in the second half.

The match was tense throughout as a yellow card was handed to Lincoln in the first half, then two more and a red in the second half.  It looked as thought the game would be called early as parents in the stands started yelling at the officials and players and  a parent was ejected. The teams played out the last several minutes. 

The Knights last won the Firebird Classic Silver Division title in 2018, the same season Middlebury defender Catie Cassani, Duke midfielder Sophie Jones and Rice student Alexa Thomases - all in attendance Saturday - went 3-1 for the Knights.