BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
ALAMO — Running warmup laps before the sun has fully illuminated the sky above 6:30 a.m. soccer practice at PSJA Memorial High School requires full investment from the players.
Splitting allotted practice time into a morning and afternoon session was a decision made by girls coach Art Chavez to ensure the team doesn’t have to practice in the dark — a possibility if all the day’s work was done after school. The team practices on an auxiliary field without stadium lighting.
The move had more benefits than just combating daylight savings in the afternoon. It pushed the Wolverines to lock in and commit more time toward improving, which has led to a 7-1-2 record and 25 points in the District 31-6A standings. The Wolverines are a point off the pace set by Edinburg North with five games to play.
“The best part about winning is knowing how hard we worked in the mornings,” Yozary Gonzalez said. “Every morning practice, we wake up at 5, we come here, we work out. After school, during soccer class, we put in the work that we should be putting in to come out with the wins.”
Gonzalez, a four-year letterman, was part of the last PSJA Memorial team to qualify for the playoffs, in 2015. She got a taste of the postseason during her freshman season before the team was ousted 5-0 by powerhouse Los Fresnos in the bi-district round.
The last two years have been a tough lesson about how difficult getting back into the postseason is. The Wolverines missed a playoff berth by a point last year and don’t want that drama again. They’re taking charge of their own playoff scenarios.
“This year, it’s a lot more special knowing we are accomplishing stuff on our own instead of depending on other teams to allow us to qualify,” Gonzalez said. “For me, I’m going to leave school knowing that we accomplished something that we always wanted.”
Gonzalez has been on a torrid goal-scoring pace in 2018. She’s scored nearly 60 percent of the team’s goals in district games (13 of 22), but much of the talk about her play has been about her unselfishness.
“She helps a lot — pass-wise, defense-wise. I really trust her in anything,” fellow senior Kristi Gomez said.
Gomez recalled an instance of Gonzalez drawing five defenders before finding an open Wolverine during a game a few weeks ago. She also offered praise for Gonzalez as a competitor and teammate.
“She’s an amazing athlete,” Gomez said. “From her freshman year compared to now, her senior year, she grew so much. She’s more mature. When a teammate is down, she’s always there to help. That’s what I really love about her. She’s such an amazing teammate — sister. Words can’t explain how she is.”
While her game has expanded beyond just offense, Gonzalez hasn’t lost her touch on the ball. Success has brought on extra attention from Memorial’s opponents, but that has just caused the midfielder to play with more precision.
“It was a work in progress,” Chavez said. “At the beginning, she was one-minded like every 14-year-old. Always ‘go, attack.’ Throughout the years, we have molded her and made her an overall player. When we’re up and we’re trying to guard, we put an extra defender, and Yozary is the one that goes back and helps us out.”
In the middle of a windy afternoon practice session, Gonzalez reflected on the difference in her mentality on the field since 2015.
“When I was 14, I basically just thought about myself,” Gonzalez said. “All I thought was about scoring and scoring. I think this year, I think more about the team and about us and how hard we work together. I know how much they work and how much I work. It’s a team effort.”
THE RIGHT CHOICE
Gomez, who had a memorable volleyball season in the fall, almost didn’t play her fourth year of soccer after signing to play volleyball at Laredo Community College.
Words of encouragement from her six senior teammates convinced the goalie to put the gloves back on and be a part of another playoff run. She’s had the guidance of assistant coach Mauricio Chacon, who played goalie in Costa Rica.
The Wolverines have conceded just nine goals in 10 district games, and only six have been with Gomez in the net. The combination of stingy defense and a quick-striking offense has caused the bar to be raised on the fly.
“Our goal was to make playoffs, but we’re already in playoffs, so why not go that extra mile and get district champs? We’re working as a team — working hard to get a district championship, as well,” Gomez said.
OTHER OPTIONS
Opponents have to pick their poison between Gonzalez and her supporting cast, which includes Litzy de Angel, Gianna Salinas or even defender Ester Martinez. Each has made a mark on the score sheet.
“When they put a personal defender on me, it’s very hard for me to keep my calm and focus, but I think about my team first,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t really focus on them. I just play my game. I feel more free when there’s no one on me. I get to pass the ball around — shoot around more than usual.”