After defeating Mountain View High School in the Division III CCS final, the Menlo girls varsity soccer team capped a historic 2024–2025 season by advancing to the NorCal semifinals for the first time in school history. “It was a great group of girls, and the team spirit was the best it’s been in my three [seasons at Menlo],” senior captain Julia Axelrod said.

Despite falling to the eventual NorCal Division III champion, Maria Carrillo High School, the Knights achieved the level of success that girls soccer head coach Ross Ireland had envisioned. “The team really played to the potential of where I thought they could go,” Ireland said.

This season, the Knights will be replacing nine seniors, including starter Angelica Chou, who scored 17 goals and added seven assists in just 10 games. Axelrod hopes the returning and incoming players can make up for the loss and sustain the same energy and chemistry from last season. “We’ve already met all the prospective players in late September, and hopefully we can carry the momentum from last year and have a team with good chemistry and have fun,” Axelrod said.

Ireland agrees with Axelrod, emphasizing how the team’s camaraderie impacts its level of play. “I’m hoping we can attain the level of connection the team had [last year], which I think played a key factor in the team’s success,” Ireland said.

Looking ahead, Ireland also plans to take a new approach in selecting this year’s roster. “I’m going to look for players who are really committed [to the team],” Ireland said. “I want to reward the players who are willing to do whatever it takes to be part of the program.”

Menlo will play its next game after winter break on Jan. 2 against Notre Dame High School in San Jose.