Jacks look to improve on state finish

QUINCY — After falling to Seattle Academy in the first round of the 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament, the Quincy Jackrabbits are returning to the field this season and hungry for a better end result.

“We’re using that (loss) as our motivation, making sure that doesn’t happen this year,” said senior Jorge Nunez, the 2022 Caribou Trail League Player of the Year. “Especially being our last year.”

The Jackrabbits finished 2022 with a 13-5-1 record and earned the No. 3 seed in the state tournament. However, the Cardinals upset the Jacks in the first round after a second-half goal broke a 2-2 halftime tie.

“Coaches, players, we’re all excited,” Tafoya said. “We had a good run last year, but it was just an unfortunate way the way we ended our season. I know that the boys are hungry to get back at it and, hopefully, get past the first round of state this time.”

Quincy lost seven seniors from last year’s roster, many of which played on the defensive line for the Jackrabbits.

“It’s been a little tough, especially on the defensive side,” Tafoya said. “We had three seniors that graduated in our back line, and it’s a whole new look in our back line. But, some solid players that are looking to make their mark and we’ve got some other players that were ready to move up from JV.”

To help counter the loss, senior Alex Mendoza, who joins Nunez and fellow senior Isaac Lopez as a team captain, moved to center back.

“It’s a huge change, but (I’ve been) just going out there with an open mind, learning a new position and connecting with it,” Mendoza said.

Lopez, a center defensive midfielder, says the team has been adjusting well to the loss of last year’s seniors.

“It hasn’t been easy, they were a really big part of our group last year,” Lopez said. “They contributed to a lot of what we achieved last year. It hasn’t been easy to replace them, but I feel like we’ve been doing good so far. I feel like with the people we have, it shouldn’t be too much of a stress.”

Team unity has been a strength early in the season, according to Tafoya who credits that to the captains.

“Everybody’s meshing well and being positive all around,” he said. “Our captains (Lopez, Nunez and Mendoza) have just been great mentors toward some of these younger guys.”

The trio of Nunez, Lopez and Mendoza are taking the charge in leading the younger players along the way in adapting to the varsity level..

“(Nunez), he’s our top scorer and our No. 1 guy up top,” Tafoya said. “Isaac Lopez, he’s our core right there in the midfield for us. Alex Mendoza, he’s moving back into the center back role. That gives us a solid (group) for the whole team right there. It’s guys that have been playing together since a very young age, so they know each other well. That helps out a lot as well.”

Along with getting back to state to avenge the early loss, Tafoya said another goal for Quincy is to earn a top-four seed in the tournament once again.

“It was kind of shocking for us to get that No. 3 seed, and was nice for us to host the first two rounds – but it really wasn’t that fun when you’ve got to host the second round and you’re not playing in it,” Tafoya said. “Hoping to have that opportunity again, be in the top four so we can host the first couple rounds and hopefully make it to the semifinals. That’s probably our No. 1 target and goal right now.”

Ian Bivona can be reached via email at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.