Athletes of the Month
February 6, 2014
Omar Hamade (10)
Varsity Boys’ Soccer
Leading Varsity scorer Omar Hamade showcased his on-field talents this season, with six goals and three assists.
At the Harker vs. Woodside Priory game on Jan. 15, Omar scored hattrick goals and scored two goals against Crystal Springs Uplands the next day.
With Omar’s help, the team currently is in second place in the West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) with a 3-1 record.
“Omar has been in fantastic form so far this year,” Head Coach Shaun Tsakiris said. “He continues to show quality in the final third [of the season], but more importantly, he has been a great teammate with a hard working attitude.”
The varsity star scored two goals for the Eagles at the King’s Academy game on Jan. 10 bringing the team to a 4-2-1 overall and a 1-1 in league at that point in the season. Following the boys’ win against Saratoga High 2-1 in December, the team emerged victorious to Terra Nova High 3-1 with a goal and assist from Omar.
“Omar brings a lot of swag to the soccer pitch,” captain Kevin Moss (12) said. “He comes out with the attitude that he’s going to get by you and score every time he gets the ball, and a lot of times he does.”
Scoring two goals and earning six points throughout the game, Omar helped secure an Eagles’ victory against KIPP Collegiate 6-2 on Dec. 9. He also scored a point against Lynbrook on Dec. 20 and followed during the following Harker vs. Sacred Heart Preparatory game with two points.
“In four WBAL matches, Omar has been an integral piece to the team’s current success with his commitment and relentless desire to score goals for the benefit of the team,” Assistant Coach Iman Siadat said.
Omar continues to succeed on the field throughout the remainder of the season, including eight games before the the team enters the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs.
Position: Center Forward
Jersey Number: 9
Goals: 6
Assists: 3
Overall: 6-2-1
League: 3-1
Gabriela Gupta (11)
Varsity Girls’ Soccer
Third-year Varsity right back Gabriela (Gabi) Gupta successfully kicked off the season with adding to the accumulating 48 points she has scored throughout her Varsity career.
“Gabi has had a tremendous season so far,” Coach John Docherty said. “She has to cover a significant amount of ground. Not only does she have defensive responsibilities, but she also has to provide wide support for our forwards as we transition into attack.”
This season, Gabi has scored a goal in all eight games played as of Jan. 21 and remains the only player who has scored while playing on defense. She has a record 20 goals and eight assists, bringing the team to a 3-0 record in league.
“In the [Castilleja] game she shut down their strong attack which allowed us more possession time [and] gave us opportunities to score,” captain Julia Fink (12) said.
After the match against Wilcox High School on Dec.10, Gabi was named player of the game.
According to Docherty, “statistics don’t reveal how important Gabi is to the team. Not only is she a tireless worker all over the pitch, but she’s also a ferocious tackler.”
The Harker defensive team holds the best record of the season within the Skyline Division. In fact, the team has given up only one goal in conference competition.
“Gabi is a really versatile player on our team, because she can play defense but she’s also a very valuable shooter,” teammate Alicia Clark (12) said. “She’s quite speedy and aggressive—two great attributes for a defender. As a goalie, I feel very comfortable having her as a defender because she never lets the ball past her.”
With only a few games remaining until the Central Coast Section (CCS) season begins, Gabi continues to demonstrate her defensive strengths on the field.
Position: Right Back
Jersey Number: 25
Points: 48
Goals: 20
Assists: 8
Overall: 7-1
League: 3-0
This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on Jan. 27, 2014