By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons get a mulligan for their 2014 season in soccer.
They were rebuilding with a number of new players and wound up barely missing the playoffs.
Things are going much better this season. The Los Fresnos girls are following a path that is similar to one taken by their team in 2013, when they won district, advanced to the regional tournament and finished as the No. 1 team in the Rio Grande Valley .
Of course, some of those accomplishments have yet to be realized by the current team, but the Lady Falcons appear to be on the right course to making them happen.
“I’m positive we have the potential to do it,” said Rubi Soto, a sophomore utility player for Los Fresnos. “We’ve put in the practice time, we’ve had a lot of hard work, so I know we can do it.
“I’m just happy to be part of this team,” she added. “It’s so incredible. We have a great group of seniors, and I’m glad to get to play with them.”
Added teammate Suzy Rodriguez, a senior outside midfielder, “We all love each other and we work hard for each other. What we did in 2013 was an awesome experience, and now I want to finish off my senior year by going back to the regional tournament and giving the underclassmen behind me the platform of how it feels to do something like that.”
The District 32-6A champion Lady Falcons defeated District 29-6A runner-up Laredo United 2-0 in the area round of the playoffs Thursday at Roma. They next play a regional quarterfinal match against McAllen High at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Weslaco ’s Bobby Lackey Stadium with the winner advancing to the Region IV-6A tournament starting Friday at Brownsville Sports Park.
The current Lady Falcons were No. 1 in the Valley in the final regular-season rankings released just before the playoffs began March 26. Los Fresnos captured the district title in an ultra-competitive 32-6A race with a 12-2 mark.
For the record, the Lady Falcons have won district four of the past six seasons, including this one, and are attempting to qualify for the regional tournament for a fourth time in six seasons as well.
he 2013 team finished 17-3 and was led by All-Valley MVP Ariana “Pinky” Castillo (42 goals).
When asked about Los Fresnos ’ squads of 2013 and 2015, Lady Falcons coach Marissa Wood said, “Those two teams share a common thread: love. As we go further in the playoffs, everyone (we face) is talented. There’s got to be something more to us, more than just talent, to set us apart. For us, it’s what is found in the heart and the constant theme of believing (in ourselves).”
In regard to the current Lady Falcons following the path of their team of two seasons ago, the coach said, “We have everything in the way of potential to do what we did in 2013 and then some. I honestly believe that.
“These girls are smart players, and it’s not just one or two of them, it’s a lot of them,” Wood added. “They’re very coachable. Every week they trust us to do our homework as coaches and come back and tell them what to expect. We work on it and perfect it. That’s been the routine pretty much all season. We’re continuing to learn. They know that they’re not done, and we’re trying not to peak too early. Whatever God’s will is , that’s what it’s going to be for us.”
Outside midfielder Veronica Bratschi — a freshman on the 2013 team — also sees the possibility for her current squad to do well again.
“This team has been to the regional tournament before, it was pretty awesome for us, and I think we can go really far,” Bratschi said. “Everyone we have at every position is experienced. They’ve been playing their whole lives, and they know what they’re doing.
“I believe we have so much potential,” she added. “It’s something for our community and our school to celebrate. We have the whole town behind us.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @ HessRgehess.