As the Othello Huskies girls soccer team gears up for the upcoming season in the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC), they are buoyed by the return of their entire roster from last year. This continuity is expected to provide a significant advantage as they look to improve on their previous campaign.
Head Coach Victor Quiroz expressed optimism about the team's prospects, stating, "We’re looking good; we’re trending in the right direction. We’re bringing everybody back that we had last year on our varsity team, so we’re super excited. That makes it a lot easier going into the season." Last season, the Huskies finished with a record of 6-9-1, which allowed them to qualify for the district tournament, although they faced elimination in the first round against Prosser in a tightly contested match that ended in a shootout, 2-1.
This year's squad features three seniors: Brooklyn Hillman, Aliyah Ruelas, and Miriam Garcia, who have been integral to the team’s development. Coach Quiroz has known these players since their middle school days, having coached them previously. He 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." Their experience is expected to play a crucial role in the team’s dynamics this season.
Brooklyn Hillman, one of the senior leaders, shared her feelings about entering her final season with the Huskies. Although she admitted to feeling some nerves, she expressed confidence in her teammates' abilities. Hillman stated, "We have a good squad, and we should be able to make it farther than we did the past couple of years. I’m excited just to see how my senior season goes knowing I have a chance to go play in college." She emphasized the importance of fostering a supportive environment for younger players, particularly freshmen, as the seniors take on more prominent leadership roles.
Hillman also highlighted the importance of building team chemistry off the field, believing that strong bonds will translate into better performance during matches. She remarked, "I think having the bond outside of the field is going to help us connect a lot more on the field." This focus on unity is crucial as the team aims to establish its identity early in the season.
Coach Quiroz has been directing practices towards helping the players find their identity following a lengthy offseason. Fortunately, many of the girls remained active over the summer, participating in jamborees and club soccer, which Quiroz believes has been beneficial. He noted, "Through the summer, we had a couple of jamborees, and it was mostly my varsity girls showing up, and I think that really benefits them. We saw glimpses of what they can be when they’re all together and they’re in the zone."
As the Huskies prepare for the challenges of the CWAC, which is known for its competitiveness, Quiroz is hopeful that the returning players' experience will provide a solid foundation. He stated, "The CWAC has always been tough, and we’ve been in the middle of the pack every single year, but I think the girls, like I said, we have our whole varsity returning. I think just having that kind of experience of them playing together, it’s a huge benefit for us and it’s not like we’re trying to piece things together as we go." The Huskies will kick off their league play on September 10 against the Ephrata Tigers at 5 p.m., marking the beginning of what they hope will be a successful season.
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