The Palo Alto High School girls’ field hockey team kicked off their season with a 4–1 win over Carmel on Wednesday, September 3. The Vikings struck early with a goal in the first quarter. and kept things up with a second goal in the second quarter, giving Paly a 2–1 lead at halftime after Carmel answered with a goal of their own.

The Vikings tightened up defensively in the second half, applying strong pressure and forcing turnovers, leading to two more points in the second half. Captain Charlotte Barclay (’26) reflected on their performance after the game, saying, “I think our team made a lot of adjustments from our previous scrimmage and worked a lot better as a cohesive unit. Our defensive press worked really well, and we’re working on spacing for our next game against Los Gatos.”

Williams credited the team’s communication as a key factor. “We came out with a lot of energy and really trusted each other on the field,” junior Caroline Williams said. “Our passing and communication were so much better this game, and that gave us the confidence to finish strong.”

The win sets Palo Alto at 1–0 on the season and gives them confidence heading into their next challenge: a road game against league rival Los Gatos. With early signs of a balanced attack and a defense coming together quickly, the Vikings look poised to be a competitive force in the coming weeks.