By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Samantha “Sam” Bodden has been on fire scoring goals for Brownsville Veterans Memorial this soccer season.
As a senior forward, Bodden has recorded 50 goals in 2018 to help the Lady Chargers advance to the Class 5A state playoffs as the fourth-place team from District 32-5A.
Brownsville Veterans plays at District 31-5A champion Sharyland High at 7 p.m. Friday in the bi-district round of the postseason.
This season has been great,” said Bodden, a team captain and four-year starter. “There have been some ups and downs, but mostly ups. The girls on this team have given their best for us. We have a lot of freshmen who have made an impact. Our coaching staff has been amazing, and without them, we wouldn’t be where we’re at now.
I know I have a role to lead on this team, but I feel with the other seniors we have that I’m not solely responsible for it,” Bodden added. “We have a full team (of capable players), and it’s been great.”
Over her four-year career at Brownsville Veterans, Bodden has scored 94 goals. She’s played forward as a junior and senior, which noticeably boosted her goal total. As a center midfielder and player on the wing her first two seasons, she scored six and 12 goals, respectively. She scored 26 as a junior and now has 50.
The Valley’s single-season record for a female high school player was set last season by Los Fresnos’ Tanya Prazelini, who tallied 68.
The coaches I’ve had all my life have been the ones who have helped make me the player I am now,” Bodden said. “I’ve been playing in outside (youth and club) leagues since I was 5 or 6, and all those coaches have made a big impact on my life (as a soccer player). Also, (Brownsville Veterans) Coach (Luis) Troncoso, who has been my coach since I was a freshman, has been nothing but the best.”
Bodden plays on the Dynamo Academy club team based in McAllen. One of her teammates with the Dynamo is Pace’s Krissie Rivera, a senior standout scorer who topped 100 career goals earlier this season. Another 32-5A standout scorer is Porter’s Priscila Cortinas, who also surpassed 100 career goals this season.
The presence of Bodden, Rivera and Cortinas has made 32-5A a district featuring talented scorers who have a knack for finding the net.
Troncoso considers Bodden to be an impact player, someone who has been an important contributor since she was a freshman.
“As a coach, you look out (during a match) and see the team and who you’re playing against, and many times there’s a player who is a difference-maker,” the Lady Chargers coach said. “It’s nice to have that type of player with us in Sam. You work and do everything as a team, but it’s always helpful to have a difference-maker. When she first came in as a freshman, she immediately made an impact on the team. She stood out in the district (even as a freshman).
“Again, it’s just been a great thing for us to have someone like Sam,” he added. “She works very hard and you can see that on the field. She plays (100 percent) on every ball. Sam (even) comes down and helps out on defense.
She’s always up and ready to go for anything I might ask of her. She wants to support the team in whatever way possible. She just has a great knowledge of the game with a willingness to play where ever she’s needed.
“Sam has scored some beautiful goals throughout her career here at Brownsville Veterans.”
Bodden said she treasures her time as a member of the Lady Chargers and will miss being a part of the squad. Older sister Kathryn Bodden graduated from Brownsville Veterans last year and is playing soccer at Huston-Tillotson.
“Sam” hopes to be playing college ball next school year, too.
But right now, her focus is helping the Lady Chargers do well in the postseason.
“I have really high expectations for this team,” Bodden said. “I hope we can go far (in the playoffs). We know we can do it. We just have to work as a team and come out strong. (Now that we’re in the playoffs) we can’t hold anything back.
“It’s my senior year and I can’t thank everyone enough (who has helped me), especially my parents (William and Janie Bodden),” she added. “My parents mean the world to me.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess