McAllen Memorial girls soccer head coach Matthew Kaiser describes senior Bethany Garr and sophomore Madisyn Sosa as lightning on the field, in terms of both speed and quickness.
He also said sophomore Sofia Alaniz-Choy and freshman Chloe Mejia run on thunderous cannons instead of normal legs to take explosive shots from long range.
That combination should prove to be a powerful offensive weapon, especially when District 31-5A play begins. It’s a district Kaiser said is probably the toughest Class 5A district south of San Antonio. Even though the matches his Mustangs are playing this week in the McAllen ISD Girls Soccer Showcase have plenty of benefits, he just wants to get to district play soon.
“I don’t think we can handle another injury,” Kaiser said following 7-6 loss to perennial power Corpus Christi Flour Bluff on Friday at McAllen Memorial. “We’ve struggled so far. The early games before Christmas went well, but we had to cancel a game and this tournament is our first time playing since we left for break, and we have some players out where I think we would have had different outcomes. The key for us is to stay healthy. If not, it could be a tough year.”
Sosa scored a pair of goals and dished out two assists during the high-octane matchup Friday and will be one of the keys if Memorial is going to advance to the postseason again this year. Last year, the Mustangs notched the No. 4 spot and all four 31-5A teams defeated their 32-5A counterparts in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
Now a sophomore, Sosa said she feels more in place.
“I feel that I help contribute more to the team this year,” Sosa said. “Last year, I was a little timid on the field and not as aggressive as this year.
“Since Bethany and I are faster and Sofia and Chloe and have strong legs, if the defense goes for them then they chip the ball over and we make use of that. We just start running to intercept it and go.”
Kaiser said not enough credit is given to freshmen who contribute on their varsity teams, such as Sosa and Alaniz-Choy last year, and, he hopes, Mejia this year.
“Madisyn and Sofia are tested now,” said Kaiser, in his 15th year at the helm. “It’s a big jump and an entirely different experience to what they are used to even in club where you’re playing in your age group. Then suddenly, you’re toe-to-toe with a bigger and more experienced kid. You’re asking a 14-year-old to play with the experience and maturity of tough 18-year-olds. It’s not easy.”
Maybe the biggest growth he’s seen is in Alaniz-Choy.
“Their explosiveness is different,” Kaiser said. “Madisyn and Beth are two of the quickest and fastest girls I’ve had in a long time — track stars on the soccer field. Sofia’s explosiveness is from her shot, from 30-40 yards out with some punch behind it. You can’t give her very much space, she’ll drop a missile on you.
“But, I have seen already she has gotten smarter. She knows when it will work and when she needs to try something different. Last year, it was her go-to weapon but it wasn’t always at the right time. I already see that she knows when to cut loose and when she needs to stay under control.”
The Mustangs play their final game of the showcase at 9 a.m. today against Alamo Heights at home.