2008 Girls Soccer Preview

The Rivera Lady Raiders soccer team went from four wins two years ago to 19 victories and the District 32-5A championship in 2007.

So far in preseason workouts, Lady Raider coach Thomas Brashear has been busy trying to convince his players they have a bull’s eye on their backs as defending 32-5A champions.

The Rivera girls graduated only two players from the team that finished 19-7-2 overall last season and won 32-5A with a 10-2-2 record.

"I’ve been trying to get the message across that other teams will be gunning for us," said Brashear, who is beginning his 10th year as the Lady Raiders’ head coach. "We have to get serious about it. If we can stay on track and stay focused, yes, I think we can do it (repeat as district champs). If not, it’s going to be very tough."

The Lady Raiders return nine starters, including 2007 All-Metro MVP Ivette Lopez, a senior forward and four-year starter who led Rivera with 16 goals last season. She also was named MVP in 32-5A.

The other returning starters are midfielders Nena Villarreal, Idalia Retta, Aimee Young and Johvana Rangel, defenders Shantal Cruz and Cintya Gonzalez, goalkeeper Ines Rodriguez and forward-midfielder Yhaijara Zavala.

Zavala, Young and Rodriguez were first-team all-district selections last season.

Other letter-winners back on the varsity squad are midfielders Sheila Trejo, Jennifer Caraveo and Lilly Garcia plus defender Karen Castaneda and forward Erica Ayala.

Rivera’s top newcomers are forward Adriana Gonzalez, goalkeeper Natasha Celedon and midfielder-defender Jennifer Garza.

"We’re a little faster up top and we have a little more experience now," Brashear said. "One of our biggest concerns is we have some players adjusting to new positions."

Regarding the 32-5A race, Brashear said, "I think it will be a lot like last year with the same four teams (Rivera, Hanna, San Benito and Los Fresnos making the playoffs). I don’t know what order it will be."

The following is a team-by-team preseason look at the other five Brownsville-area squads in 32-5A:

HANNA LADY GOLDEN EAGLES

Reyes Prado begins his 11th year as Hanna’s head coach, having guided the Lady Golden Eagles to the playoffs in each of the previous 10 seasons.

Hanna is returning seven starters and nine lettermen overall from the 2007 team that went 12-14-4 overall and 7-4-3 in district.

“The experience of the girls coming back and the tradition we have (are strengths going into the season)," Prado said. "Hopefully, their experience and leadership will carry us. We know it’s going to be very competitive (in district). We’re looking forward to the challenge."

The returning starters are goalkeeper Karla Hernandez, defenders Liz Juarez and Claudia Zamorano, defensive midfielder Karina Uribe, forward Tina Gaytan and midfielders Yessica Iracheta and Lorissa Soto.

Other lettermen back include forward Amber Torres and midfielder-defender Amber Rodriguez.

Gaytan was Offensive Co-MVP in 32-5A last season, while Zamorano was an all-district first-teamer. Torres and Uribe were second-teamers.

"Team chemistry is a concern at this point," Prado said. "We have a mixture of seniors, sophomores and freshmen. Once we get things going, we’ll be all right. We’re just anxious to begin the season."

PACE VIQUEENS

Valentin Mata is starting his 11th season as Pace’s head coach with eight returning starters from the squad that finished 2007 with an 8-17-2 overall record and a 4-8-2 mark in 32-5A.

With eight starters back and 12 lettermen returning overall, Mata believes it is a very realistic goal for his team to challenge for a playoff spot this season.

"It looks promising," Mata said. "The fact that our sophomores have a year of (varsity) experience now, and you mix them in with our older players, and the expectations for us are a lot higher. We hope to make a solid run to the playoffs. The big thing will be our girls staying eligible (academically). We also have to establish our defense."

The returning starters include goalkeeper Bianca Delgado, sweeper-forward Dulce Cordova, midfielder wings Sonia Alcala and Maleny Delgado, stopper Nora Dimas, forward Karla Lozano, defensive midfielder Daniela Maldonado and center midfielder Maggie Rios.

Lozano, Rios and Maldonado were first-team all-district performers last season.

Other letter-winners back are forward-defender Jessica Escandon, defender Arely Jimenez and midfielders Kirash Salas and Aracely Saucillo.

Pace’s top newcomers are center midfielder Alicia Gomez and forward Vanesa Sanchez.

Mata sees the 32-5A race as another tough battle.

"We go through this every year," he said. "It’s a dog-eat-dog world (in district). There are no weak teams. Whichever team is on the night of the game is going to be very important. Eligibility and injuries will play a big part of it, too."

LOS FRESNOS LADY FALCONS

The Lady Falcons earned their first-ever trip to the playoffs last season and would like nothing better than to continue that trend under new coach Mauricio Rodriguez, who replaces Jennifer Gantt. Los Fresnos finished 9-10-3 overall and 6-6-2 in district.

"We are a young team on a rebuilding phase, having lost six starters, but we’re improving daily," Rodriguez said. "We have a good team chemistry with experienced and young players, and we have better team depth than last year."

The six starters returning are midfielders Emmy Castillo, Ruth Medina, Gabriela Garza and Aleyda Ontiveros plus defender Michelle Garcia and forward Samantha Garcia, who is expected to join the team after the basketball season is over.

Samantha Garcia was the newcomer of the year in 32-5A last season, while Castillo earned first-team all-district honors.

Other lettermen back are goalkeeper Yajaira Lopez, defender Iliana Escandon and forwards Cynthia Hernandez, Amanda Castillo and Jessica Ruiz.

Rodriguez lists his top newcomers as goalkeeper Amanda Fulton, defenders Avery Danielson and Samantha Fish, defender-midfielder Angela Hernandez, midfielder Cynthia Alvares and forward Gracie Becerra.

LOPEZ LADY LOBOS

Injuries and academically ineligibility hurt the Lady Lobos last year as they missed the playoffs for the first time this decade.

Lopez coach Nina Gonzalez said her team went through five or six goalkeepers due to injuries.

The Lopez girls finished 6-18-3 overall and 1-10-3 in district in 2007.

There are 11 players coming back who started at one time or another last season for the Lady Lobos.

They are forwards Melissa Benavides and Miriam Guerrero, midfielders Daniela Hernandez, Corey Lopez, Dulce Villegas and Jenny Macias, goalkeeper Sara Lee Rodriguez and defenders Jasmine Montoya, Andrea Carraveo, Jessica Nieto and Gladys Blanco.

Other lettermen returning include midfielder-defender Melissa Flores, defender Nora Molar and midfielder Noemi Jimenez.

Gonzalez said the top newcomers for the Lady Lobos are defenders Zaida Villegas and Gracie Ordonez, midfielders Crystal Chavez and Viviana Ramos, and forward-midfielder Samantha Escandon.

"We’re lucky to have a solid group coming back," Gonzalez said. "They know each other. Keeping the girls healthy will be a concern."

PORTER COWGIRLS

The Cowgirls are bringing back five starters from last year’s team that finished 8-13-2 overall and 5-8-1 in district.

They are midfielder-forward Gina Everitt, forward Daily Hernandez, defender Vanessa Torres and midfielders Cynthia Martinez and Mercedes Garcia.

Everitt was the offensive co-MVP in 32-5A last season.

Also returning to the varsity squad for Porter are midfielder Brenda Cepeda and midfielder-forward Patiana Acevedo. The team’s top newcomers include midfielder Larissa Alvarado and forward-defender Jessica Bolado.

"Having Gina back, as long as she stays healthy, is a big plus," Porter coach Jorge Jaramillo said. "We have some experience in the midfield. It will be a tough district race, and we’ve got to find a way to stay up there. Our defense needs some work, so that’s a concern."