By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
Rivera senior forward/midfielder Yianey Diaz has learned some hard lessons during her career with the Lady Raiders.
Motivated by missing the postseason her junior year, Diaz went on to be named to The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro first team. While she put her team in position to qualify for a postseason that went unplayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she secured a place on a college roster Wednesday when she signed her intent to attend Eastern Oklahoma State College in front of the high school.
“Because of (missing the playoffs), we learned we needed to work harder and dedicate ourselves more,” Diaz said. “This year, we put in everything — we put in the work, we put in the mentality, we put in the sweat and that really helped us with our outcome in qualifying for the playoffs.”
Diaz has been praised not only for her ability but for her role as a teammate.
“Yianey, first and foremost, is an excellent athlete,” Rivera coach Eduardo Torres said. “What I really loved about her was her attitude. She always stayed humble. Even if she knew she was the best player on the field, she acted like she was one of the rest. … I believe that’s one of the ingredients that she put into this season that’s helped her get to where she’s headed to.”
The Mountaineers compete in the NJCAA’s Region 2. EOSC had six Texas natives on its 2019-20 roster.
“They offered me a lot that would help me with school,” Diaz said. “And also with soccer.”
She remains undecided in her major but said she plans to decide between kinesiology and teaching, adding she ultimately hopes to pursue a career in coaching.
EOSC coach Justin McCain was in attendance for Diaz’s signing and said he discovered her through her highlight film on various recruiting websites.
He is in his fourth season leading the program and also serves as assistant for the men’s team.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to scout and recruit virtually helped the Rivera standout sort through several offers to find a match for her to play at the college level.
“This year has been a little bit different with recruiting for everybody,” McCain said. “High school seasons got canceled, showcase tournaments got canceled. One of the benefits of our time period is technology, and that’s how I found out about Yianey. … I’ve been down here almost every year to get some girls from (the Rio Grande Valley). There’s a lot of talent down here that gets overlooked sometimes.”
McCain said he has also recruited players from McAllen Memorial and PSJA Memorial in his 2020 signing class.
“The great thing that I have with this group is a lot of them are a lot like Yianey,” McCain said. “They’re very versatile. They might play one position for their high school team and one for their club team. A lot of it for me is how they come in, how fit they are and what fits best for us. But I think we’ll definitely try to figure out where she fits best as far as forward or midfield.”
What Diaz believes separated her was her desire to stack up against the best competition in Brownsville.
“I’m very proud of her for accomplishing this (goal),” Torres said. “As long as she keeps that winning attitude, that humble attitude, she’ll get anywhere in life and she’ll do whatever she wants with it.”