Huskies look for success with a younger team

OTHELLO – The Othello Huskies girls soccer team ended their last season with a record of 6-9-2, which qualified them for districts, but they were eliminated in the first round. This year the team has a younger roster, but hopes for a deeper postseason run.  

“Last year we were a young team and it kind of showed when we went into playoff play,” said Huskies head coach Victor Quiroz. “We had a good regular season, but we were knocked out in the first round of playoffs.”  

The Huskies graduated nine seniors from the team in the offseason, which were complemented by the seven freshmen who were on the team last year. This year’s team is returning fewer seniors, with a roster heavy in underclassmen.  

With the team being so young, Quiroz said the goal for the Huskies is to spend the season jelling with one another on the pitch. Many players enjoy club soccer together in the offseason, which will make building team bonds easier.  

“The challenges are just how young we are and kind of learning as you go,” said the coach.  

The Huskies are working on fundamentals for their early-season practices as they approach their first game of the season. Quiroz said the team will learn where they need to go and progress from there.   

He said he is looking forward to seeing how the players develop.  

“I know we’re a young team, but I think experience-wise, these girls have played a lot of soccer,” said Quiroz. “Just waiting on that progress throughout the season because I know it’s going to be there.”  

Key returners for the varsity team are sophomores Khloe Valdez and Abcde Garza and juniors Brooklyn Hillman and Alyiah Ruelas.  

Kimberly Espinabarros is a returning senior, and said she is looking forward to working with the team as they give their all and push each other to get back up after every fall, no matter what.  

She said last year was difficult, but the challenges helped the team come together and learn to communicate more and grow closer. Moving into fall play, the team will focus more on helping each other out during games.  

“Give each other advice (on) what we can use to get better at different positions so we can play better in the games,” said Espinabarros.  One of the goals she is setting for the team is to ensure that everyone has fun and stays positive.  

Valdez said she is expecting the team to become better than they were last year during her first season. Last season was a good experience for her as she made many new friendships and built bonds with the coaching staff.  

“The season was just fun in general, it was a good season and a good year,” she said.  

Hillman said she is excited to continue bonding with her teammates.   

“I don’t want to just be competitive, just come together as a team,” she said.  

Hillman said that learning each other’s play style will greatly benefit the Huskies this season.  

“A lot of us come from different clubs or never played in high school,” she said. “We’re a super young team, so I think working on each other’s playing styles instead of just working on my own playing style.”  

Valdez said connections the team has built since last season will help the Huskies go farther than last year.  

“I think this year we’ll take it more seriously than we did last year and we’re more focused this year than last,” she said.  

The Huskies first game of the season will be at home against the Moses Lake Mavericks Tuesday at 7 p.m.  

    Brooklyn Hillman kicks the ball to an open teammate during the Huskies indoor practice. Hillman said she is looking forward to strengthening her bonds with her teammates as they build themselves up this season.
  

    Betsy Policarpio, Miriam Garcia and Esther Lopez line up together for a photo during practice. Coach Victor Quiroz said that one of the goals this season is for the players to learn how to play together and build up team chemistry.
  

    Huskies’ Brooklyn Hillman, left, competes against coach Rubi Mondragon and Khloe Valdez for the ball during team scrimmages at an indoor practice. Despite being a young team, coach Victor Quiroz said the team is quite experienced from their time playing club soccer together outside of the high school program.
  

    Huskies player Mili Flores readies herself to kick the ball into the goal during an indoor practice scrimmage. Coach Victor Quiroz said the team is starting the season by working on the fundamentals.
  

    Huskies’ Angie Monday and Aliyah Ruelas prepare for kickoff during their indoor soccer practice. The Huskies are planning to improve their record from last year and make a deeper run in the postseason.