
2021-2022 SMHS Girl’s Soccer Team Rules
- Eligibility:
You must maintain a C average or a 2.0 GPA. Be enrolled in a minimum of 5 classes and be on track to pass 20 credits. Any student with less than a 2.0 GPA and 2 or more F’s is academically ineligible to participate in games.
- Practices:
If you are going to be late to practice you must either contact your coach or team captains, failure to do so may effect playing time.
- Code of Conduct:
At all times you are to be respectful of teammates, coaches, school officials, referees, as well as demonstrate good sportsmanship to the opposing team. Failure to comply with these standards may result in diminished game time. There will be no negative outbursts tolerated from players at practice or games towards teammates.
- Playing Time:
Game time is earned and will be based on practice effort/attendance, game matchups, and school opposition. Our intention is to play everyone during preseason but you will earn starting/substitute positions for conference play.
- Attitude:
All practices and games will be conducted with encouragement and a positive outlook. We encourage creativity among all players but with a goal of team success. You are now role models for younger soccer players in San Marcos and must always remember this fact, especially during games both at home and away.
2021 Freshmen Team Tryouts
The girls soccer coaching staff would like to welcome all incoming freshmen to the girls soccer program. We wanted to provide some important information prior to the start of tryouts:
-Please understand that we do not have a conditioning period that club
teams can provide. We have a three month season and our preseason
games begin very quickly after you return from Thanksgiving break
-This means that you need to be in game shape when tryouts begin.
We unfortunately have to select players who can immediately
participate in full scrimmages and positively impact games.
Because of the schedule restrictions we concentrate primarily on
tactical schemes for all teams at practices because many of the players
do not play together outside of high school so we focus on the
team first aspect. We simply do not have time to spend practices to
zero in on individual skill work. We do have technical drills for each
practice that are conducted during our warmups but we do not devote
whole practices to technical work. This means that you need to
work on your ball skills prior to tryouts and on your own.
You need to come prepared
-We do not care nor will we ask you where if at all you play outside of
school. So please do not approach any of the coaching staff to discuss
your club experience during the tryouts.
-For those of you who do wish to try out for JV or even Varsity
please keep in mind when determining what team you want to play
on that high school is a completely different brand of soccer. In
high school the JV and Varsity teams are combined ages and
especially on Varsity you will be competing against players who
could possibly be four years older than you. This is basically you in
four years, older, stronger, faster, with additional experience and
knowledge. Choose the team you can play on, sitting on the bench
does not help your career at San Marcos High School.
For tryouts you will need to bring the following:
Shin guards / water/ and cleats
For tryouts please do not wear any club affiliated apparel
If you are not fully cleared by the Athletic Department you will not be allowed to tryout, no exceptions!
COACHING STAFF
Daniel McKell – Director Girls Soccer Program / Head Coach Girls Varsity
Coaching Experience
2016– PRESENT: SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL
Director of Women’s Soccer Program / Varsity Coach Head Coach
2019 – Present: City SC San Marcos / SM Revolution
Director of Coaching / Director of Olders
2018/2019 SEASON: NORTH COUNTY FOOTBALL CLUB [NCFC]
Director of Coaching (Boys and Girls) / Head of Player Development
2017/2018 SEASON: SAN DIEGO SURF
2000 DA Technical Trainer / Assistant Coach / Strength & Conditioning Coach
LA GALAXY SAN DIEGO / CARLSBAD UNITED
- 2000 & 2001 Premier Coach / Girls: U10, U11, U12, U14, & U15
- 12 First Place Tournament Trophies & 5 Second Place Finishes
- Final 4 & Sweet 16 State Cup Finishes
- Playing Experience
Professional Career
- CONCAF (FIFA Tournament) Club championship (with SAP FC)
- Antigua – SAP FC ( Top Division )
- Trinidad and Tobago North Eastern Stars (Top Division)
- Queens Park FC (Top Division)
- Atlanta Silver Backs (USA – USL / A League)
- Contracted out – Luton United FC (London Division 1)
College Career – Division 1
- University of South Carolina (Ranked Top 10)
- Captain 2 Years / All Conference / Honorable Mention – All American
- Marshall University / Charleston University (West Virginia)
- Captain 2 Years
Trinidad and Tobago’s National Team: U20 and U23 training
High School – Trinidad and Tobago: League champions / National runner-up
Josh Leupold Varsity Asst Coach / Goalkeeping Coach /
Operations Manager for the Women’s Soccer Program
Playing career:
* 4 years on varsity at Westmont HS (goalkeeper, all league selection senior year)
* 10 years with West Valley United club
San Marcos High School
Coach Josh is entering his 7th year with the San Marcos HS girl’s program as assistant/goalkeeper coach and is looking forward to the 2021-22 season.
Highlights with the Varsity Knights include two League Championships (2017 & 2021) and a SoCal DII Finals (2017).
Previous coaching experience:
* 2 years with Vista Storm club
* 3 years with West Valley United club (San Jose)
* 11 years with Westmont HS (San Jose); won first girls league title in school history

Dean Balent – Varsity Asst Head Coach / Tactical & Training Coach
Playing Career:
Instituto Ingles’- Rancagua, Chile
Newport FC – Newport Beach, CA.
Phoenix Club – Greater LA Semi Pro League
Los Angeles Aztecs – North American Soccer league
California Surf – North American Soccer League
San Diego Sockers – North American Soccer League
University of San Diego – Captain / Starter
Coaching Career:
Orange FC – U14 Boys Orange, CA.
Orange Coast College Club Team – Costa Mesa, CA.
La Jolla Nomads – U16 Boys National Champions
SD County Soccer League Women – Open Division
Carlsbad Lightning - U9 & U10 Girls
Carlsbad United /L.A. Galaxy San Diego – U11 through U17 Girls Teams
High School Coaching
2014-17 Carlsbad High School Boys Freshman Team League Champions x2
2017-18 Carlsbad High School Girls Varsity -League Champions first time in 7 years
2018-19 Carlsbad High School Girls Varsity - League Champions – undefeated
2019 CIF San Diego Open Champion - First time in 9 years
2018-19 CIF San Diego County Coach of the Year
2021 San Marcos High School Girls Varsity - League Champions first title in 5 years undefeated

Valentina Zito - Junior Varsity Head Coach & Assistant Varsity coach
Playing Career
Started playing soccer at 4 years old
Goalkeeper for life
Played club soccer in New Jersey
College
Palomar College & University of Saint Katherine
Captain all 4 years
NCCAA 1st team all-regional in college
All-time saves leader with 441 career saves at USK (2017-2019)
Coaching Career
Started coaching at SMHS 2015
City SC San Marcos
OTHER QUESTIONS?
If you have questions not covered above, please email the coaching staff at [email protected].