By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Don’t look back, but if you do, don’t dwell on it.
That’s the message Lopez coach Alex Macias has for his team as the Lady Lobos enter a new girls soccer season in District 32-6A, coming off their best showing in school history.
Yes, it was a season to remember, just don’t remember it too much, Macias is saying. He knows what lies ahead is far more important now than what was accomplished in the past.
Last season, the Lady Lobos went 21-1, won a district championship with an undefeated record and advanced to the regional tournament in San Antonio for the first time. They finished ranked No. 1 in the Rio Grande Valley.
The good news at Lopez is a number of last year’s standouts are back, including nine players with starting experience.
Still, there’s no looking back.
“It was what it was,” Macias said. “What we did last year was last year.”
This could be the most competitive season with the most talented teams in the East Valley since UIL girls soccer first came to deep South Texas in 1997.
Macias said his girls must be prepared to face some stern challenges, especially in district.
“Our biggest obstacle this year is our mental focus,” the Lady Lobos’ coach said. “Last year’s success gave us experience, confidence and unity. We are just going to have to keep our mental focus in order. Instead of being afraid to be the target, we will have to turn up the intensity and have teams be afraid of playing the target.
“It will be a difficult challenge for the girls, but we believe in each other,” he added.
According to UIL rules, the regular season begins Thursday.
Here is a team-by-team preview of girls squads in The Brownsville Herald’s Metro circulation area that includes Los Fresnos and Port Isabel:
LOPEZ LADY LOBOS
Among the players back for the Lopez girls are midfielder Samantha Ruiz, central defender Michell Salinas, forwards Christiane Escandon (team-high 28 goals in 2014) and Carla Gracia, outside midfielders Leslie Estrella and Janie Medina, and midfielder Gloria Ortegon. Each of them received all-district recognition last season as Ruiz was the offensive player of the year and Salinaswas one of the district’s newcomers of the year.
Also back are defender Kimberly Hernandez and goalkeeper Ana Morales.
Key departures were center midfielder Silvia Olivares, defensive midfielder Jennifer Perez and goalkeeper Alondra Barrientos.
“Things are a little different this year because we come into the season with more experience,” Macias said. “If we can get things together, I think we can do well.”
LOS FRESNOS LADY FALCONS
The Lady Falcons barely missed the playoffs in 2014 during a season that was something of a rebuilding year. It followed their 2013 campaign in which they advanced to the regional tournament for the third time in four years and finished as the No. 1 team in the Valley with a 17-3 record.
Former assistant coach Marissa Wood takes over as the head coach this season, and the Lady Falcons appear quite capable of making some noise in district and the playoffs with seven starters back and a solid group of additional players who return with varsity experience.
The returning starters are goalkeeper Vanessa Ramirez, sweeper Samantha Serino, outside midfielders Maria Leyva and Susan Rodriguez, center midfielder/forward Cristen Lumbreras, forward Tanya Prazelini and center midfielder Clarissa “Claire” Castañeda.
Serino, Castañeda, Lumbreras and Prazeliniearned all-district honors last season, either on the first or second team.
Among those also returning as experienced players on the varsity are midfielder/forward Veronica Bratschi, forward/defender Gabby Moya and defender Rubi Soto.
A talented newcomer is freshman Gabby X. Mariscalat center midfielder.
“Health is something you always pray for as a coach,” Wood said. “If we can stay healthy, then everything else will fall into place. These girls are hungry and want that gold ball bad. We will take it one game at a time and continue to do our part.
“This is a very special group of athletes this year,” Wood added. “I’m so ready to see them succeed on and off the field. You can tell they share a love of the game and understand the sisterhood that they share being a part of the Lady Falcon soccer program. This is one of those groups you never forget as a coach.”
RIVERA LADY RAIDERS
There are seven starters returning along with six other lettermen as the Lady Raiders attempt to make another trip to the playoffs.
Heading the list of returnees are forward YeseniaOrtiz, midfielders Daniela Carrion and Michelle Morales, defender Alexis Herrera and goalkeeper Stephanie Ramirez.
Ortiz was the district MVP as a sophomore last season with 46 goals. Herrera was first-team all-district, while Carrion was a second-teamer.
Another player who could help out if she recuperates from a volleyball injury is Jahzeel Zaragoza.
“District 32-6A is going to be very tough with no gimmes,” Rivera coach Thomas Brashear said. “Every team has a solid opportunity to get to the playoffs. It is going to be fun.
“It will revolve around which teams can stay focused game in and game out,” he added. “That will depend on team leadership.”
BROWNSVILLEVETERANS MEMORIAL LADY CHARGERS
Although their record might not have shown it, the Lady Chargers were a difficult team to beat last season and were known for their tough defensive play. The problems they encountered were injuries and a lack of goal scoring.
Luis Troncoso begins his third season directing the Lady Chargers, with four starting defenders back along with a pair of returning starters in the midfield. The four defenders are Stephanie Bender, Jaqueline Treviño, Mia Villalpando and Victoria Morales, a team captain who also plays forward. The two starters back in the midfield are Sabrina Rebaldo and Kathryn Bodden .
Boddenwas a first-team all-district selection last season, and Morales was one of the district newcomers of the year.
Other lettermen back include Blanca Capistran, Laura Cepeda, Mariana Gonzalez and Nathalia Torres. Andrea Morales, a midfielder/forward, is a newcomer who could make an important contribution.
“We should be a better balanced team to attack and defend,” Troncososaid. “A lack of goal scoring (is still a concern).”
PACE LADY VIKINGS
With seven starters back along with four other lettermen, the Pace girls will be looking for continued improvement this year during Jesus Omar Villarreal’s second season as coach.
The returning starters are defenders Jennifer Galvan and Ashley Galvan, midfielders Hania Davila and JoAnn Sanchez, forward/midfielder Zucely Gomez, defender/midfielder Erika Martinez and forward Vivian Barrera. Other lettermen back are defenders Amanda Morales and Yanira Alvarez, forward/midfielder Stephanie Vasquez and midfielder Nathalie Covarrubias. Newcomers include forward KrissieRivera and midfielder Alma Perez.
Ashley Galvan, Jennifer Galvan, Gomez, Sanchez and Davila were all-district honorees last season.
Pace and Porter will be playing in District 32-5A with PSJA High, PSJA Southwest, Edcouch-Elsa, Mercedes, Donna High and Donna North.
Villarreal sees his team and Porter as strong candidates to make the playoffs out of 32-5A.
“These girls have been playing together for over a year now, so they know each other pretty well,” the Pace coach said. “Combinational play is a plus.”
PORTER COWGIRLS
Coach Abraham Gracia welcomes back six returning starters as he begins his seventh season guiding the Lady Cowgirls.
“This year I feel that our greatest strength is our attitude,” Gracia said. “These girls have been showing up with an excellent attitude to every practice and have been showing a phenomenal work ethic.
“This is a new district for us this year,” he added. “I believe that it’s going to be a very fun season that will be full of surprises.”
The starters back include goalkeeper/defender Elaine Salazar, midfielder/forward Angie Escandon, midfielder/defenders Marcela Galvan and Lizbeth Garcia, utility player Alexis Vega and defender Karen Montes. Salazar and Escandon were all-district first-teamerslast season, while Vega, Galvan and Montes were honorable mention picks.
Gracia hopes to add two other lettermen, Danielle Ocampo and Keyla Guevara, once they are done playing basketball.
HANNA LADY GOLDEN EAGLES
Jose Morales takes over as coach for the Hanna girls, and he inherits a team with a lot of talent that is coming off last season’s playoff appearance.
Lady Eagles who received all-district honors as underclassmen one season ago include goalkeeper Amanda Alaniz, defenders Maddy Brama and Priscilla Villarreal, midfielders Julissa Urbina, Frida Palomo and Adrienne Davis, and forward Natalie Garcia.
PORT ISABEL LADY TARPONS
The Lady Tarpons are beginning just their second season of UIL soccer with Jesus Cardenas as the coach.
They will play in District 32-4A this season against Brownsville IDEA Frontier, Rio Hondo, La Feria, Lyford and Progreso .
Last season, Port Isabel went 7-5 in district to qualify for the playoffs and lost in the opening round of the postseason to Donna North.
Lady Tarpons who received all-district recognition as underclassmen last year were Kaila Dioquino, Felicia Calo, Kimerely Wilson, Julissa Mondragon, Hannah Waddell, EstefaniaOviedo and Ana Martinez.
BROWNSVILLE IDEA FRONTIER LADY CHARGERS
The Lady Chargers will be playing in District 32-4A. They will be looking to replace standout scorer Klarissa Chavarria, who had 18 goals last season and was the district co-offensive MVP. Chavarriagraduated and signed to play at Universityof Texasat Brownsville.
Players who figure to be key members of Frontier’s team this season are stopper Kathryn Beth Luna, forward/midfielder Alexa Valadez and defender Rebeca Gonzalez.