ATHERTON, CA

The Oaks' first home game of 2023 ended in a 4-0 loss to the visiting Bobcats of UC Merced. Menlo's record now stands at 0-2-0.

Brilliant Brunzell

One Menlo player who left it all on the field today was Swedish sophomore Liv Brunzell, who played all 90 minutes and notched 3 shots, 1 of which was on target. A confident player with the speed and footwork to match, Brunzell has had a solid start to her second year in Atherton. 

Today, Brunzell was an effective contributor to the Menlo attack, but also fully committed herself to making the unglamorous defensive plays that her team needed in high-pressure moments. To top it off, she is also one of Menlo's go-to players when a throw-in is needed. She will certainly continue to be a key contributor for the Oaks during their non-conference games, but will become especially valuable during the grueling Golden State Athletic Conference season.

Captain Thalhamer

In terms of gritty performances, newly-minted Oaks captain Taryn Thalhamer rose to the top again today. She continued to demonstrate the resolve and vocal leadership that every team needs, both on the field and off. 

Throughout the game, Thalhamer was relentless in her drive to disrupt Merced's possessions, demonstrating an uncanny ability to predict and thwart the Bobcats' different approaches toward the Menlo goal. In the waning minutes of the match, with her team down by 4 goals, she continued to push into the midfield in an attempt to create opportunities for Menlo attackers. 

Thalhamer, a sophomore from Cameron Park, California, transcended her age last season, and appears poised to do so again in 2023.

Up Next

Menlo will host San Francisco State University for a scrimmage on Saturday, August 26th. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM. The Oaks will then have three weeks to train until their next game, a home match against Bethesda University of California on Saturday, September 16th.