Soccer: Hannah de Silva Has Scoring Touch

Hannah de Silva starts every game she plays wanting to score. More often than not, she gets what she wants.

This season, in fact, she has been a model of consistency for Palisades High, leading the team with 14 goals and seven assists through 13 games. Entering Wednesday’s regular season finale at LACES,  the Dolphins’ senior forward has scored in 10 straight games – a testament to the determination and focus she has whenever she takes the field.

“I’m always feeling hungry to score,” de Silva said.

When asked if he knew the last time his star player failed to find the back of the net, Palisades Coach Christian Chambers admitted he couldn’t remember. Probably because it was back on December 12 at Fairfax – exactly two months ago.

And de Silva isn’t all about offense, either. She can prevent goals as well as she can score them. In fact, she plays outside back for her Westside Breakers U19 club team.

“I like them both,” de Silva said about her two positions. “It’s not really that tough because you basically make the same runs going down the lines.”

It was de Silva’s versatility that helped Palisades survive the loss of a key starter before the season started.

“When Caroline [Gluck] tore her ACL in early November, we needed someone to share the scoring load with [Kaitlyn Parcell] and Hannah has filled that role,” Chambers said.

Although she lives in Woodland Hills, de Silva is anything but a “Valley Girl” and her coach and teammates are grateful she chose Palisades instead of 12-time City Section champion El Camino Real.

“I love the Palisades,” de Silva said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Not only is de Silva one of the team’s top scorer, she is also one of its most well-liked players.

“On the field she has that drive and tenacity to get to the goal but off the field she’s one of the nicest, most compassionate people I’ve ever met,” said teammate Elizabeth Goodman, who has been one of de Silva’s best friends since they were first-graders at Marquez Elementary. “We were on an AYSO All-Star team together called Pali Rox and she joined the [Westside] Breakers the year after me.”

Starting her senior year off in style, de Silva helped the girls cross country team win its second straight City championship in the fall. She began running cross country at Paul Revere Middle School and that sport, along with  the mile and 800 meter events on the track, have increased both her speed and stamina.

“Winning the [cross country] title felt really good because we were third my freshman year, second my sophomore year and now first the last two years,” de Silva said. “What I love most about soccer is the team aspect, being all together. We’re like a family.”

Having committed to Long Beach State three months ago, de Silva is eager to begin the next phase of her journey . The school first showed interest in her at a club tournament when she was in ninth grade and she has kept in touch with the 49ers’ staff ever since.

“I really like the coach and I got to take a tour of the campus to give me an idea what it would be like if I go there,” de Silva said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Chambers believes de Silva will succeed at the college level.

“She’ll do great because she has a great work ethic,” he said. “Hannah really enjoys the work that goes into it. She’ll embrace the challenge.”

She says she’s considering majoring in sports medicine, but right now de Silva has a City soccer title in her sights. Palisades lost to Granada Hills in the finals last winter and de Silva would like nothing better than to erase that memory.

“It’s hard to compare this team to last year because we’re different and we have new coaches,” she said. “Our goal is still the same and hopefully we can do it.”

— Steve Galluzzo