Ruby Trinidad advances the ball during Othello High School girls soccer practice Friday. Coach Juan Garcia said the goal for 2022 is to build on the successful 2021 season. CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Rubi Mondragon, foreground, goes low to intercept the ball during soccer practice at Othello High School Friday.
Rubi Mondragon works the ball during a drill at Friday’s Othello High School girls soccer practice.
Bella Neveah Garza, Othello High School soccer, during practice drills Friday.
OTHELLO — The Othello High School girls soccer team had a good 2021, and Coach Juan Garcia said the goal is to keep building on that success in 2022.
“This is going to be a challenging year, but exciting,” Garcia said.
The Huskies finished third in the Central Washington Athletic Conference in 2021, advancing to the state playoffs before losing 1-0 in the first round. Garcia said that’s the starting point for 2022.
“We want to make it our goal to finish again in the top three in league. We want to be able to start consistently keeping up with Ellensburg and Selah - those are kind of the model schools for the CWAC,” he said.
“Last year was the first time in, I believe, seven-plus years that we were able to get a win over Selah,” he said. “We beat them 1-0 here at home. Very intense game. We want to be able to keep up with them.”
But the CWAC is looking pretty tough for 2022. Selah and Ellensburg remain contenders, and East Valley (Yakima) is looking strong too, Garcia said.
“Their coaching staff, I’ve got to give them props. They did an amazing job. They have a very young group of players, and they were very competitive last year. So I expect them to be up there as well,” Garcia said.
“I think the fight for third place is going to be between East Valley, Prosser and Othello,” he said. “It’s going to be a very tough league. Very competitive.”
About half of the starters on the 2021 varsity team return, he said. Senior Rubi Mondragon was all-league and all-state as a junior.
“Conditioning for her - it never stops. She has batteries. She’s like the Energizer Bunny - she goes, goes, goes,” Garcia said.
Senior Ruby Trinidad is a strong defensive player, Garcia said. Junior Stephanie Gonzalez will fill the center-midfielder position.
“We’re hoping that she really grows into that role of being that leader of the team,” Garcia said. “It’ll be very challenging for her, but I think she’ll step up to the challenge.”
The Huskies opened the season with a 6-0 win over Connell Saturday and played 1A Quincy Tuesday.
“That’s an old rivalry from when they were in CWAC,” Garcia said. “So I’m looking forward to that game.”
Othello plays Shadle Park, Spokane, Sept. 9, and Selah Sept. 13 in the conference opener.
“That’s going to be very challenging for a (conference) season opener,” Garcia said.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.
Sept. 7, 6 p.m. vs Quincy
Sept. 9, 4 p.m. @ Shadle Park
Sept. 13, 6 p.m. vs Selah
Sept. 9, 6 p.m. vs East Valley/Yakima
Sept. 27, 6 p.m. vs Ellensburg
Oct. 4, 6 p.m. vs Moses Lake
Oct. 8, 12 p.m. vs Ephrata
Oct. 10/11, 6 p.m. @ East Valley/Yakima
Oct. 13, 6 p.m. vs Prosser
Oct. 20, 6 p.m. vs Grandview
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Bella Neveah Garza, Othello High School soccer, during practice drills Friday.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Rubi Mondragon works the ball during a drill at Friday’s Othello High School girls soccer practice.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Rubi Mondragon, foreground, goes low to intercept the ball during soccer practice at Othello High School Friday.
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