Girls soccer finishes a historic season

The girls just kept making history this season.

El Rancho Girls soccer finished runner-up in CIF Southern Section Division 4 and reached round 2 of the 2023 CIF SoCal Division 4 State Regionals.

Typically, Girls’ soccer is overlooked when it comes to soccer season at the Ranch, with the common focus on Boys’ soccer, the 2022-2023 Girls’ team flipped the script.

Now, what is so different about this specific group?

Assistant Coach Stevie Galvan believes the team “just had the desire to come out and prove a point” after the previous disappointment they have faced over the years. They “took it upon themselves to pass that hunch and that’s what ignited their enthusiasm to succeed,” said Coach Galvan. The seniors have been great role models for the rest of the team by “being a by-product of hard work, commitment, and belief.” said Coach Galvan.

Coach Galvan has coached the girl’s program for 5 years. Her five-year dedication to the girls’ soccer program is unmatched by previous coaches who have led for around 2 years. “For as long as I have been on the team, Stevie has pushed me to be a better player all 4 years and has instilled a resilience in me that no coach has ever done before,” said Amy Flores. Her impact as an assistant coach has proven to not only keep the team motivated but help players grow individually. “Stevie plays a huge role in my performance; without her, I wouldn’t be the player I am today,” said Amy Flores.

On February 8th they traveled to Hemet to face Tahquitz High School for the 1st round of CIF and took a solid 3-0 win. The bond between the girls plays a big role in how effective they are on the field. “Our bond helps us connect on the field better than most teams can,” said Crystal Moreno.

But each player often has their own struggles.” I often am very hard on myself and hold high expectations for myself, when I don’t

meet those expectations I start beating myself up and messing up during the games,” said Dayanara Gonzalez.

With a first round win in CIF under their belt, the girls played against Saint Paula in round 2 on February 10th. They crushed their opponents with a score of 4-0. (add connecting sentence to winning and setbacks). “Setbacks allow the girl to want to work for me off their own ability. It allows me to challenge them and motivate them to know they are capable of reaching their full potential” said Coach Galvan. Even when they are falling short during the game, Gonzalez keeps herself motivated and encourages her attitude onto her teammates. “If we are ever losing in our games, I keep pushing and motivating the girls to keep giving it their all,” said Gonzalez.

On February 14th, the girls played in the quarterfinals and represented the Ranch with a 2-1 win against Viewpoint at home. With a tight game, a positive mindset and encouragement from others were a necessity for the girls. “I have grown to better my mindset to keep my head high and encourage my teammates even when the game isn’t going our way,” said Alvarez. 

On February 17th, our Girl’s soccer team hosted the Semi-Finals game against Cerritos High and won 3-2. For the majority of the game, the score was neck-and-neck so the pressure fell on to each goalie. El Rancho’s goalie Ayannara Flores tries her best to keep her mind off the upcoming match on game day. “I honestly just blank out before games. I try not to think too much of the game because then I get nervous too easily,” said Flores.

Girls reached their final round of CIF division 4, a first-time in the program’s history. Despite the thunderstorm, the girls traveled to Bonita High on February 25 and played their hearts out against Western Christian High. Although the outcome was not ideal, support spewed from students, staff, and parents. “The weather took a toll on our team, especially our playing style,” said Yammile Picon. Captain Picon plays a big role in leading the team despite the opponent they are facing, or the weather. In order to ensure effectiveness toward their goal communication is crucial.

Although they did not take the CIF division 4 title, the season was not over. Off to state they went!

On February 28, the girls played against GALA High in the 1st round of CIF State Regionals and won 3-1. With such an important game on the line, getting your head in the game comes with pre-game rituals. “I repeat the same three songs every day and dress comfy for game day,” said Ayannara Flores.

As the girls keep advancing, motivation and leadership have “been the foundation of the reason why we have gone this far and they are ready to be challenged, pushed, and be up for any opportunity to be great” said Galvan.

The process of their journey plays a role in the growth not just of the team as a whole but individually. “I’ve been playing on the team for 3 years, as a player, I’ve grown to learn what helps me before games to further prepare myself for the match. I’ve also gained the confidence to speak up to my teammates on tactics that I feel could improve our game” said Nayeli Alvarez. 

Captains Yammile Picon and Crystal Moreno “have been phenomenal” said Galvan. “Their friendships of respect trust and care have impacted their work on the field,” said Galvan.

Their season came to an end on March 2, when they played against Hemet for the second round of State Regionals. “I am super proud of the girls and coaches for their perseverance throughout the season,” said Captain Picon.

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Girls Varsity soccer team on this epic season.

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