BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
LA JOYA —
Soccer’s closest comparison might come from the ultra-tactical board game of chess.
Coaches love to talk about the chess-like maneuvers. In-game adjustments can result in your pieces thriving in a whole new part of the field.
La Joya Juarez-Lincoln coach Rick Garza and assistant Jose Escobedo might be some of the luckiest chess mates in RGV girls soccer because of the unique players available to craft their lineup.
Another strong freshman class has helped the Huskies improve from a fourth-place finish a season ago, losing by a goal in the bi-district round to one of two RGV girls teams remaining.
“It’s exciting more than anything. It’s not something that’s going to happen from one game to next,” Garza said. “It takes a program and it’s a project at the end of the day.”
The Huskies (33-1) will face Austin Lake Travis (21-4) in the Region IV Class 6A semifinals at 10 a.m. today at Brownsville Sports Park.
Junior midfielder Ashley Segura wears “La Diez” — Spanish for the No. 10 — and serves as the team’s conductor through the middle of the pitch. She stands just below five feet but still manages to drive an offense.
“Since I was small, my parents always taught me that size doesn’t matter,” Segura said. “She pointed out a saying in Spanish that she uses as a reminder: ‘We’re only playing against them. We’re not going to carry them.’”
Segura says displaying confidence is key in the sport. After the pre-game prayer, Segura says the Huskies pump each other up and dial in.
“It’s important because then you let the other team know that you’re in charge on the ball,” Segura said. “We all have each other’s backs. We block out the fans and play the game we’re supposed to play like we always do.”
The season that the District 30-6A runner-up had is more impressive when factoring in the absence of forward Pricila Hernandez during a stretch of games in district, including the team’s lone loss of the season against McAllen High.
Hernandez was dealing with a muscle issue that sent her to the hospital.
The sophomore Hernandez is another player Garza was able to move because his team has more reliability in the defense and midfield compared to a season ago.
“She was definitely missing on the field and we lost a little our on side, but a lot of girls stepped up so they could take over her position while she was gone and play for her,” Segura said.
Hernandez, who scored twice during a third-round win over Laredo Alexander and has four postseason goals in 2019, said missing time was a disappointing but knew they were in good hands.
Junior striker Melanie Olivares was often tasked with filling the net while Hernandez was absent.
“I got sad because I didn’t get to play with my team,” Hernandez said. “When I was in the hospital, I was thinking I would have been playing if I wasn’t here. When they were winning, I was really happy because I know my team, I’m so confident in them.”
Juarez-Lincoln’s inexperience might be their strongest quality. There are six freshmen on the playoff roster and most aren’t there simply to ride the bench and get a close look of the action.
Stephanie Jimenez, a defender, has been one of the Huskies’ most dynamic players for most of the season. The speedy freshman has shown she’s not afraid to take the attack to the defense, even when she starts the run from her own side of the field.
Hernandez, a sophomore, said the class of 2022 is ahead of its time. Keyla Torres, Amber Segura, Ana Rocha, Nallely Quiroz and Deisy Reyes are the freshmen along with Jimenez.
“The incoming freshmen, we used to play with them (growing up) — me, Keyla (Torres), Amber (Segura) and I used to play with them,” Hernandez said. “So now we’re like a family, a team that has been playing for a lot of years.”
Amber Segura is Ashley’s younger cousin. She had the option to go to another school in the district but was sold on the idea of playing with family.
“I’m super proud I came over here,” Amber Segura said. “On the field, we’re more like sisters. Even at school, (my teammates) are always there for me when I need something. I just love the girls.”
Amber plays in the midfield, right in front of the sure-footed Jimenez. Amber doesn’t think they need to change their game much in the regional tournament — only elevate to another level.
“We just have to be the bigger person and we have to play stronger and faster and smarter,” Amber Segura said.
If Juarez-Lincoln can get past Lake Travis, it will play at noon in Saturday’s regional final at Brownsville Sports Park.