Freshman soccer girls playing for varsity

January 5, 2010
Filed under Soccer, Sports

This season, varsity girls soccer coach Juan Encarnacion has noticed some particular skill and advanced play being shown by a select few freshman and has made the choice to move them up to the varsity level. The players are defender Laci Richey, goalkeeper Sara Levens, center midfielder Moriah Phillips, and outside midfielder Amanda Rosales.

Coach Encarnacion lost eight seniors from the 2008-2009 girls varsity team, and therefore had quite a few spots to fill.

“These girls play the positions we needed to fill, and they play them well,” Encarnacion said. “They are hard workers, I think it’s going to be difficult for them, but I also think they will do well.”
When Richey found out that she had made the varsity cut, she had mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement.

“I was excited, when I found out,” Richey said. “It’s going to be different, definitely more challenging but I am up for it. I am also excited because I’ve known most of these varsity girls for a while and I am looking forward to the opportunity of playing with them this season.”

Phillips was also quite anxious towards competing on the varsity level.

“I’m nervous due to the fact that I feel like I need to improve more before I compete, because our first game is coming up soon,” Phillips said. “I’m also nervous because this team has been together for a while, and I want to be able to adapt, and not interfere with the team chemistry, but add to it.”

Levens is quite nervous about playing the goalkeeper position, which is one of the most physically and mentally challenging positions in the game, and has a lot of pressure to preform well  this season.

“It’s a real honor to be playing keep as a freshman on the varsity team,” Levens said. “I’m both nervous and excited, because it’s one of the most difficult places to be on the field, I’m the only thing between the ball carrier and the goal. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I feel as if I’m up to it.”

Rosales is looking forward to playing on varsity for a much different reason, which is her sister, Ruby Rosales, who is a senior captain on the team this year.

“I’m looking forward to playing on the same team with my sister, because this is her last year,” Rosales said. “This isn’t our first year to play on a team with one another, but it is our first year in high school to play together.”

Much like the players, Coach Encarnacion has high expectations for these girls, and sees them going far in the future.

“I believe these girls have all the tools to be great players,” Encarnacion said. “I will have a big group of seniors leaving again after this season, and this will help them develop experience for next year, as well as helping out their team this year.”

Varsity girl’s first game will be held at Jase Magers field on January 5th at 7:00 p.m. against Jacksonville.