By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — No East Valley girls soccer team went further in the playoffs than the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons last season, ending with a loss in the fourth round.
The fight to get back in the playoffs out of the tough District 32-6A is off to a good start, though. The Lady Falcons routed San Benito 15-0 on Tuesday night to open their district campaign.
“I think it was a good start to the season,” Los Fresnos senior Sara Garza said. “We have been trying to communicate and pass the ball more. I think we have been achieving that.”
Said sophomore Nataly Garcia, “We want to work as a team and go farther than last season. We started our season off really positive.”
Los Fresnos coach Juan Luna is keeping the aspirations high, too.
“Our goal is never going to change,” he said. “We want to improve from the previous year and even improve from yesterday. It brings a whole different level for the girls when you switch it from ‘We got to beat this team’ to ‘We got to be better than yesterday.’ I think the girls have bought in.
“As far as the season goals, it is always going to be state champs. That is the mentality of this team,” he added. “For this season and future seasons, reaching that state tournament and competing for that state title I think would be great for the Valley and the Los Fresnos community.”
The Lady Falcons are only losing a few starters from last season and played an extremely competitive non-district and tournament schedule.
“I believe we only played three Valley schools in our non-district schedule,” he said. “I think the level of competition was on the tougher side. The girls got to see the level of competition that it is going to take to reach our goal.”
Luna said the Lady Falcons were impressed by the first touch and veracity with which teams played up north during the playoff run last season. It is something the Lady Falcons want to add to their game.
Striker Ashley Esparaza has scored 18 goals already this season. She netted five Tuesday.
“I felt like that really helped us as a team,” Esparza said. “We played good teams. It helps us, knowing what we have to do different, especially against tougher competition.”
The Lady Falcons will be in action next Tuesday when they face the Brownsville Rivera Lady Raiders.