Huskies bring in senior experience for the coming season

The Othello Huskies girls soccer team is preparing for another challenging season in the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC). This year, the team boasts a significant advantage as they are returning with their entire roster from last season. Coach Victor Quiroz expressed optimism about the team's prospects, stating, "We're looking good; we're trending in the right direction." Returning all their varsity players from last year makes the transition into the new season much smoother.

Last season, the Huskies finished the regular season with a record of 6-9-1, securing a spot in the district tournament. However, they were eliminated in the first round of districts after a hard-fought game against Prosser, which ended in a shootout with a final score of 2-1. The returning group consists of three seniors - Brooklyn Hillman, Aliyah Ruelas, and Miriam Garcia - who have been coached by Quiroz since their middle school days.

Quiroz noted, "It's cool to see that transition from when they were middle school players to where they're at now, you can see how they matured both in the game and just as young girls."

Beyond their soccer skills, the seniors bring invaluable leadership to the team. Hillman, one of the returning seniors, admitted to being a bit nervous about her final season but remains confident in her teammates. She expressed excitement about the upcoming season, noting, "We have a good squad, and we should be able to make it farther than we did the past couple of years."

The seniors have been working hard to be supportive of the younger players, especially the freshmen, stepping up into their leadership roles. They aim to foster stronger connections between teammates, both on and off the field, believing that such bonds will translate into better team dynamics during games.

Coach Quiroz emphasized that the major goal for the early season is for the team to rediscover its identity after a prolonged offseason. Fortunately, most players continued their training and competed in jamborees and club soccer throughout the summer, which has helped them maintain their skills. Practices have been focused on finding their identity and getting the girls into the right mentality to compete hard in a short season.

The CWAC has traditionally been tough, placing the Huskies in the middle of the pack every year. However, with their returning varsity players, Quiroz believes the team's experience will be a significant advantage. The Huskies kick off their league play on September 10 against the Ephrata Tigers at 5 p.m.