Three new coaches the order for local teams
Jeff Tully
Players are getting used to three new coaches among the four local
girls’ soccer teams this season.
Although Rich Triquart was an assistant at Bellarmine-Jefferson
High last season, he takes over the head coaching duties for the
Guards this year.
At Burroughs, 1996 graduate and former All-Foothill League player
Sandra Rosales joins the program and should give the Indians a
refreshing boost.
Ruben Mendoza, who has extensive experience coaching in the
Burbank Red Machine club program, beings his experience to
Providence. Mendoza is being assisted by Matt Rosenfield, who coached
the Pioneer boys’ team last season.
The lone returning head coach is Burbank’s Savio Silveria, who
enters his fourth season with high expectations.
Here is a look at how the season is shaping up.
BURBANK
The Bulldogs ended last season with a bang, upsetting powerful
Hart, 2-1, in a Foothill League finale.
“We were very happy to get that big win in the last [match] of the
season,” said Silveria, whose team was 9-12-2, 1-9 in league last
season. “We are hoping that we can build on that win, and get a boost
from it for this season.”
The Bulldogs put together a successful nonleague run last season,
going 8-3-1 to start the year. But once league play rolled around,
the team struggled.
“We had some very close results in league last season,” Silveria
said. “We should have won some of those [matches].
“Our goal is to be the first Burbank girls’ soccer team to make
the playoffs, and I think we can do that. We have some very good
talent this year.”
Leading the way is sophomore forward Carolyn Chrzan, who had 16
goals and nine assists a year ago.
Returning players Silveria expects to make an impact are sophomore
midfielder Bianca DeSantiago, junior midfielder/defender Liliana
Morales, junior forward/ midfielder Kelsey Rohr, senior midfielder
Janette Gonzalez and senior forward Barbara Villegas.
The team should also get a boost from senior goalkeeper Brianna
Jackson, who is a talented player.
BURROUGHS
Winning a league championship under former Coach Rob Kodama in the
mid-1990s, Rosales has the experience of playing winning soccer.
Rosales also went on to play and coach at Glendale Community
College.
With a good group of returning players, and a mix of young
athletes, Rosales said she is setting high team goals for this
season.
“I would like for us to win a league championship,” she said. “But
if not, I want us to be able to make the playoffs. With the players
we have, I think that’s possible.”
Returners who will be expected to lead the way are senior sweeper
Judith Soto, senior midfielder Sonia Sagory, junior center/midfielder
Rebecca Mendez and sophomore defender Hannah Earl.
Newcomers who should help out Burroughs (6-10-1, 3-7) are freshman
Destanie Michaels, sophomore Lauren Scherr, junior goalkeeper
Daniella Florindez and senior defender Lysette Valles, who is playing
her first year of high school soccer.
“We have some girls who have come back to the team after leaving
the program the last few years,” Rosales said.
In the league mix, Rosales said she expects most of the teams to
be tough this season
PROVIDENCE
One of the Pioneers’ best athletes is goalkeeper Jenny Farah, who
is a four-year player. And that’s the position most teams want their
best athlete playing.
“Jenny is a very good player who knows what she’s doing in goal,”
Rosenfield said. “She will be one of our strengths.”
Providence -- who tied just one match last season and lost the
rest -- will rely on junior center/midfielder Kara Valeriano and
defender Katherine Jedlicka and freshmen center/midfielder Jessica
Castillo and forward Marissa Pearson to help carry the team.
“This is a really good group of girls,” Rosenfield said. “I think
we should do pretty well.”
Rosenfield said he expects L.A. Windward to be tough in the
Liberty League.
BELL-JEFF
Triquart has an interesting mix for this year’s Guards’ team.
Along with six returning seniors, the rest of the Bell-Jeff players
are sophomores and freshmen.
“I am happy with the group of players that we have,” he said. “And
we have some players who are finishing a school play and some who
were in cross-country who should be coming out.”
The big problem for the team is with its league. A host of
talented schools, like L.A. Marlborough, L.A. Marymount, L.A. Notre
Dame Academy and Pasadena La Salle, make the Sunshine League a
powerful group of teams.
“We know we play in a very difficult league with very good teams,”
Triquart said. “But we are building up a program and we will get
there eventually. This is a process and we are working hard on it.”
Accomplished returning players are senior Jessica Vera, who can
play a variety of positions, and junior defender Cynthia Huezo.
Newcomers who could make an impact are sophomore Yvette Madrid and
Kelsey Carapia, whose positions have yet to be determined.
Triquart said the goalkeeper position is still up for grabs.