Piedmont High School’s girls soccer team has flexibility this season. They can move different players around the field into different positions and can run multiple systems depending upon need.
“I would say so far, so good,” coach Dan Chubbock said. “We’ve got some good players again. We seem to have a really good competitive mentality right now. The girls have a lot of belief. They believe they can beat anybody right now.”
Chubbock said that mentality started to show in a December 7 game against Archbishop Mitty-San Jose from the powerful West Catholic Athletic League. The Highlanders ended up losing the game by a 2-1 score but Chubbock said he thought his team grew in the game.
“They came in nervous,” Chubbock said. “We’re going to get crushed. The fact they tied it up 1-1 and then lost a close game, the fact that we hung with them and could have won that game, and coming out of that, they said, ‘Hey, we’re good.’”
Piedmont should be even better as the season progresses. Five players are out with injuries, mostly minor. That means other players are getting a chance to step up. There will eventually be some good competition for playing time, something Chubbock is happy to see.
The Highlanders followed the loss to Mitty with a 2-1 win over Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa on December 10, a team that has eliminated Piedmont from the North Coast Section playoffs four times in recent years. Then, on December 12, the Highlanders beat California 2-1 to improve to 3-2 on the young season.
Ryo Woltag (27 purple) heads the ball away from Hayley Hamilton (27 white) while Elsa Wallway (10) watches 
Ryo Woltag (27) is chased by Ellie Navarro (2) 
Co-Captain Louisa Symkowick sets for the approaching play 
Chloe Toyama (4) battles Maddy Feick
Elsa Wallway scored the tying goal in the California game and later sent a corner kick in front that a Grizzlies player put into the net for the winner.
“She makes things happen,” Chubbock said of the sophomore. “She does a bit of everything. She has been all-in on soccer since she was 7-years old.
Senior wing Ryo Woltag is also shining up front.
“She’s seeing a lot more minutes this year,” Chubbock said. “She has improved a lot. Whatever she has done the last nine months since last year is really working.”
Hannah Sullivan is a senior forward who is currently out with a concussion.
“She’s a smart player,” Chubbock said. “She’s one that holds the ball up well. Gets in good position, finisher, it will be good to have her back.”
Senior Samantha Ronen has been filling in for Sullivan.
Freshmen Ayla Blanford and Kyla Williams have given the roster an immediate impact up front.
“They’re stars,” Chubbock said. “They’re very, very strong.”
Junior Elia Kwong is on the shelf with an injury but should return soon.
At the midfield, Piedmont has talented seniors Juliana Thornborrow and co-captain Louisa Symkowick. Junior defender co-captain Darcy McKee is injured and will return in January, hopefully, according to Chubbock. Senior Kyra Trombi has been filling in ably at center back for McKee.
“Not her usual position,” Chubbock said. “She usually plays outside back or forward. She has come in and done a great job.”
Trombi has been partnering with senior Eliza Hammond. Once McKee returns, Chubbock said he may rotate the three or shift Trombi to the outside.
Freshman outside back Teah Suhr injured her calf in the Archbishop Mitty game but should be back soon. Senior Ava Sauer is the replacement. Sophomore Chloe Toyama is the right back and is another player who can play multiple positions.
Senior Friedie Schickedanz is the goalkeeper, “the one and only,” according to Chubbock. She’s a talented athlete who has played almost every sport there is on offer at Piedmont.
“Friedie’s great,” Chubbock said. “The only soccer she does is high school. She’s just a competitor. She wants to win, she wants to do well, she recognizes her strengths and weaknesses and works to improve them.”
Chubbock said he likes to see the team tighten up a little on defense and he added that he thinks they could do more to control games, especially in the first half. But he’s very happy with his team.
“The girls are really adaptable,” he said. “All of the instructions we’ve given them, they’ve listened and they’ve executed. The reason they are buying in is they are seeing the results on the field. If we get crushed by Archbishop Mitty, we don’t beat Cardinal Newman.”
He also likes how the team is bonding.
“The attitude is great,” Chubbock said. “I think they’ve really bonded as a team. It’s just high school soccer. This Piedmont High program, every year is different but every year is great. The culture is there. The girls love being together. They had a team dinner on Wednesday between games. They just like being together and that’s what you want.”
Photos by Damin Esper