The path of reconstruction is often filled with ups and downs. Last season, the girls’ varsity soccer team finished last in the Gabilan Division with 3 goals scored and 29 scored against, causing them to be dropped down to the Mission Division.
Nonetheless, there is hope and ambition within the team this season. There are positive vibes coming from the team. This team is more united than last year’s team. “I’m 100% confident that we could win, talent wise in season,” said Head Coach Carissa Purnell. “We will make it to CCS, yes. Mark my words.”
This year, the team is made up of seniors Gesell Navarro, Yaritzi Guzman, Michelle Perez, Massiel Hernandez, and Jasmin Estrada; juniors Daniela Quiroz, Jasmine Vargas, Alena Ruiz, Stephanie Zarate, Alexa Perez, Rosa Perez, and Miah Ramos; sophomores Evelyn Salinas, Marlen Reyes, Grecia Perez, Heidi Pinon, Camila Avalos, and Marbella Birruete; and freshmen Ximena Juarez, Henessey Cecenas, Yuridia Raya, Giselle Solis, and Karrisa Mendez.
Purnell said, “We’re starting with a really young team…we’ve got a couple years of students to build with at least. We’re excited about that.”
One of the biggest challenges this team faces is getting to know each other. “We still need to work on it because we still don’t communicate in the field and we just need to step it up,” Massiel Hernandez, who plays last man, said.
The team got off to a rough start, dropping their first three of their first four matches, but finished preseason with wins over Greenfield and Palma to go 3-4, exceeding their win total from last year.
They opened league with a 2-0 win over North Salinas and dropped their second and third games to North County (0-1) and to Pajaro Valley (0-2). “I feel like we did good as a team. We just gave up when we could’ve done way better,” said Camila Avalo after the match against Pajaro Valley. “I think that it went downhill when they scored a goal. We could tell our heads went down.”
Purnell tried to keep it in perspective. “I know it’s not a winning record, but we’re only played two league games, which leaves us ten more,” she said. “If we do well the latter half [of the season], I think we’ll be okay and we’ll sit near the top.”
The team is currently 1-2, with games against Monte Vista Christian and Carmel this week, as they look to get over .500.
