Edinburg Vela’s Taylor Campbell is one of only three Rio Grande Valley juniors with more than 100 goals in her career. Joining her on that elite list is Donna North’s Gabby Aviles and Sharyland High’s Xochitil Nguma.
Campbell has 115 career, 45 during the 2019-2020 soccer season. Campbell has played varsity soccer since her freshman year, and was named The Monitor’s All-Area Girls Soccer Player of the Year last year.
“I am doing my best to get better every day,” Campbell said. “I have been blessed that I have already gotten college offer letters to go play for them and that is because I am only a junior, I still have an off-season and a whole year to get better and show these colleges that I can improve.”
The UIL announced Thursday that it extended its sports suspension until May 4 at the earliest due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, causing Vela to put a pause to win the district title. Vela is tied with Donna North with 26 points atop District 31-6A. With their final game postponed against Weslaco East, they will have to settle for a tie for now.
“I have no idea what is going to happen in the next few weeks,” Campbell said. “Of course, it has its pros and cons, I like how our team gets to rest in the meantime, because we put in a lot of hard work on the field. But at the same time, I know that some girls do not have access to workout like some of us. I know we might come back a little off but if the season continues, we will have to get used to playing with each other again and get that team chemistry up going.”
Vela would have secured a district title without having to go up against Weslaco East, but it fell short against the Edinburg Bobcats, falling 2-1. But this does not stop the team from aiming high and staying positive.
“I hope the season continues,” Campbell said. “We have about five seniors on our team and most of them got hurt in the beginning of the season, now they are all better and ready to go and we get postponed. We owe it to the seniors to finish off the season as district champs.”
Last season did not end well for the SaberCats, they finished up with a record of 10-2 in district and 18-7 overall, but lost in the first round of playoffs against Brownsville Hanna.
“Last year, we did not have as much team chemistry as we have this year,” Campbell said. “I think communicating as a team is very important and can really improve the way we play, which is what I think helped us a lot this year.”
Vela is 8-2-1 in District 31-6A, losing to Edinburg North and Edinburg High and tying Edinburg North for the second time, winning with penalty kicks.
“We are tied right now with Donna North,” head girls soccer coach Americo Cortez said. “This is very unfortunate on what is happening right now because for the past two years, we have been co-district champs and this year we were finally going to secure the title but they had to postpone our last game and we have no idea what is going to happen next.”
Both Campbell and Cortez are motivating the team to continue to strive.
“I know Taylor has been texting the girls to keep their heads up,” Cortez said. “A few days ago, she got some girls from the team to go run with her and stay in shape just in case we get back on the field. I am very lucky to have her on my team, she is an overall great player; since freshman year I have not seen her miss one single practice.”
As a freshman Campbell scored 36 goals and as a sophomore she scored 34, Cortez said.
Campbell was named the district’s MVP Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman and MVP as a sophomore. “We are trying to get her as MVP again this year,” Cortez said.