Varsity Girls’ Soccer Triumphant Once Again, Continuing to CIF Playoffs
UNDEFEATED The Lady Moors varsity soccer team prepares for their Feb. 21 CIF game with a motivated approach. The team’s Wednesday practice consisted of strenuous conditioning and dynamic drills.
ANHAYTE GUAJARDO
Staff Writer
The soccer team has come out on top, after placing first in Almont League this season and coming back from placing second last season behind the Montebello Oilers. The team finished the season with an undefeated 7-0-3 record, moving on to the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). Behind Alhambra, also qualifying for CIF, are the second seeded Bell Gardens Lancers and the third seeded Oilers.
“It feels pretty amazing! We worked really hard this season and it has been one of our goals this year so I’m happy that we were able to work together to complete it,” junior midfielder Xiomara Diaz said.
The team’s last game of the season was on Feb. 13 against the Mark Keppel Aztecs, winning with a score of 3-0. Upon scoring their first goal within the first 48 seconds of the game, the team gained the motivation they needed to finish their season strong.
The team is also hoping to make history this year by being the first Alhambra girls’ team to win CIF Southern Division and to continue on to state. The furthest the girls have ever gone was in 2012, when they made it into the third round of the CIF competitions.
“Going into CIF, our goal is to continue to play hard, overcome any challenges that stand in our way, and represent our school the best as we can,” captain Michelle Badillo said.
In order to accomplish their goals, the team will continue to meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at Moor Field to practice from 3:30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. According to the team, they will be working on their communication on the field, making more precise and accurate passes and working on their aggression since the teams they will be competing against will be using more of their body and strength.
The first round of CIF arrived on Feb. 21, where the Lady Moors played against the Pomona Catholic Pacers at Moor Field. The game ended in a sudden death double overtime, which resulted in a 1-1 tie between both schools. However, the Moors lost in penalty kicks, ending with a score of 4-3.