1. GOING FOR WIN #3?
It was a rough year for the lady Vikes soccer team. In a season plagued with an inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, Paly struggled through league play coming up with only two wins. Even with three players committed to play Division I soccer, the team was the first Paly girls’ soccer team in 11 years to not qualify for Central Coast Section(CCS) playoffs. 2. NOT QUITE PERFECTThe first loss is always the hardest. The Volleyball team had played undefeated with a stunning 26 game win streak up until their matchup against the Los Gatos Wildcats. The Vikings were stunned after the loss and were left almost speechless. Maddie Kuppe (’12) remembers thinking “hey guys its ok, well pull this out, we always do” but to no prevail.

3. TWICE IS NOT NICE
The boys’ lacrosse team fell twice to the Menlo Atherton Bears after staging incredible comebacks by the end of regulation time. In their first meeting, the Vikes made it to double overtime behind the miraculous saves of goaltender Josh Chin (’11). But the relentless Bears managed to sneak one past Chin into the goal to seal the game. During their second meeting the Bears came out guns blazing and ended the first half with three goals over the Vikes. Again the Vikings came back and tied the score, sending the game into overtime. In this second overtime the missed opportunities in the first overtime came back to haunt the Vikings and the Bears were again able to take the victory.

4. HERO TO ZERO

The girls’ lacrosse team of the 2009-2010 season was almost unstoppable, beating teams all over the bay including lacrosse powerhouse St. Ignatius. However, the 2010-2011 team is a different story. This year when the Lady Vikes were once again faced against St. Ignatius they lost by an embarrassing 13 goals.  So much for being unstoppable.

5. PRESSURE COOKED
All good things come to an end. The Girl’s varsity basketball team couldn’t take the heat and fell to Lincoln in the second round of the Northern California tournament. Although their season ended, the Lady Vikes’ were the first girls’ varsity basketball team in Paly’s history to have a CCS championship season.

6. SHUT OUT
It has been over a year since the Paly varsity baseball team has lost a league game. However this year, the Vikes fell to Del Mar in what was a perfect cherry on top of being swept by Wilcox. The boys were shut out with only four hits in seven innings. Tim Emory (‘12) of Del Mar pitched a complete game striking out six Vikings. Paly’s pitchers were unable to hold Del Mar to the same they gave up three runs handing them their first league loss.

7. HELD AT GUNNPOINT
What’s worse than losing to a cross-town rival? Losing not just once, but twice. The Girl’s varsity water polo team surrendered two wins to the Gunn Titans out of a total three matchups, the second ending the Viking’s season. The two teams met up for the third time in the CCS quarterfinals where the Vikings took a season ending blow from the Titans.

8. WHERE THE SENIORS AT?
There was not much representation seen from Palo Alto High School at the cross-country CCS championships. Only two runners from the whole team managed to qualify for the meet. The two Juniors, Nikolai Solgaard(’12) and Corso Rosati(’12) placed 24th and 48th respectively in the championships.

9. GO HOME HOMESTEAD
During the Homecoming game of the 2010-2011 season the Homestead Mustangs managed to sideline three key Palo Alto players with illegal blocks and tackles. Linebacker and Tightend Michael Cullen (’11), offensive lineman Spencer Drazovich (’13) , and defensive tackle Sam Moses (’12) were all sent off the field with MCL tears. This left the Vikings short on the depth chart for their closest league game of the season against Saratoga in which the Vikings trailed the Falcons 14-0 at halftime.

10. ALL I DO IS TIE
We’ve all heard of a losing streak, but a tying streak? Tying might not sound as harsh as losing but for the Vikings it seemed just as bad. The Palo Alto varsity boys’ soccer team managed to tie six games in a row, two of which were to the cross-town rival Gunn High School. Nuff said.