def path_references_application(path, apps):
    """
    Return true if the first element in the path matches any string
    in the apps list.
    
    >>> path_references_application('/foo/bar', ['foo','baz'])
    True
    
    """
    # assume separator is /
    nodes = [item for item in path.split('/') if len(item) > 0]
    return nodes and nodes[0] in apps