Sports Wrap Sports Wrap (November 18, 2005)

St. Francis cross country dominates ...

Though Ben Sitler has gotten most of the press, St. Francis proved its cross-country team consists of much more than just the standout senior.

Yes, Sitler was his usual dominant self, overwhelming the field by 27 seconds while winning the CCS Division III individual title at Crystal Springs on Nov. 12.

But the Lancers, as a whole, ran roughshod over the competition, placing an incredible six runners in the race's top-20 finishers to win the CCS team title. Philip Pompei (13th), Mike Calcagno (15th), Eric Johnson (16th), Sam Pompei (18th) and Alex Blease (20th) showed off St. Francis' depth.

Sitler, who finished in 15:03, was the top finisher in any of the five divisions.

The St. Francis girls will join the boys in Fresno on Nov. 26 for the 2005 CIF State Championships. Led by freshman Courtney Albini's 9th-place finish in 19:10, the Lancers took 2nd in the 14-team field.

... Spartans, Eagles land state qualifiers

Meanwhile, Los Altos and Mountain View each placed one qualifier into the CIF State Cross Country Championships.

Eagles junior Alec Nickolls (8th) and Spartans sophomore Tania Morimoto (12th) enjoyed banner performances in the CCS Championships at Crystal Springs on Nov. 12.

The Mountain View boys and girls teams both finished 5th, while the Los Altos boys placed 9th and the girls 8th in the Division II field.

Lancers make field hockey final

After a one-year hiatus, St. Francis field hockey is back.

The Lancers, who played in three consecutive CCS championship games from 2001-03, but missed the field altogether last year, advanced to the title game by defeating St. Ignatius 1-0 on Nov. 15.

Thanks to a short-corner goal in the 24th minute by Nichole Shuer, assisted by Nicole Rosendin and Kathryn Kamenski, the Lancers survived a spirited challenge by the Wildcats.

And now waiting for No. 2 St. Francis is an opponent the Lancers know well: Archrival, err, Archbishop Mitty.

The Lancers are the only team that has beaten Mitty (16-1-2) this season. St. Francis topped the Monarchs 1-0 on Nov. 2 and earlier played them to a scoreless draw on Oct. 7.

No. 1 Mitty is a defending CCS co-champion and already won the Mt. Hamilton Division championship this season.

St. Francis (13-2-4), which won the 2001 title and a share of the 2003 championship, has designs on ending its rival's streak and starting a new one of its own.

The championship game is set for Saturday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis.

CCS volleyball roundup

Behind 20 kills from Chelsea Ligda, No. 5 Mountain View rolled to a three-game, first-round victory over No. 12 Sequoia in Division II on Nov. 9, but the Spartans were eliminated in three games by No. 4 Aptos on Nov. 12. ... No. 7 Los Altos failed to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1997, losing in 5 games to No. 10 Woodside in the Division II playoffs on Nov. 9. ... No. 3 St. Francis defeated No. 11 Willow Glen in three games and faces St. Ignatius in the Division III semifinals on Nov. 17.
-- Scott Campbell

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