The Foothill Storm Under-14 girls club soccer team finished their season atop the Gold League standings this year. Coached by Carlos Conejo and Aron Weaver for the last 5 years, the Storm featured a fluid style of play this season due to their years of playing together. Coach Weaver said, “Though they are not the biggest or fastest, our team ended each game with around 70 percent of the possession and were able to eke out victories from tight games all year.”

Fueled by breakout striker Sheridan Lanz’s 21 regular season goals and the silky passing skills of midfielders Maya Conejo and Katie Weaver, the Storm finished the season in the Elite 8 of the 132-team League Cup before succumbing to a top-seeded team. Goalkeeper Cady Giles and a top ranked defense ensured every game was close, while central midfielder Cayla Barnes used her physicality to win possession. Coach Conejo added, “It’s been great watching these girls play together since their first success at the AYSO Select level years ago.”

The Storm are based out of Claremont, and cruised to the top of their 8-team bracket for their first championship while posting a record of 9 wins, 3 losses and 2 ties.

In the last 3 years, the Storm went from Bronze League to Silver Elite to Gold, and will be bumped up again to the Premier division next year. The Storm set a precedent this season by beating the vaunted Redlands Los Gauchos 2-0, after being winless to them in previous meetings.

The next step for most of these young ladies is to bolster Claremont High School’s varsity and JV soccer teams in 2013, as all but 2 members of the team are currently in 8th grade. This winter, look for freshman Raven Wilbur to turn a few heads for the Pack.

—Chris Oakley

sports@claremont-courier.com