SOC: Lady Riders reach league win plateau
season action. Ruiz scored a pair of goals in the second half
Wednesday night as CHS recorded its first-ever District 35-4A
victory, 4-2, over Hudson. (Photo by John Krueger)
This has been a historical season for the Center Lady Rider soccer team. But no achievement to this point was larger than the squad's victory Wednesday night when CHS traveled to Hudson and recorded the first district win in the history of the program.
Center, which has looked stellar at times this season, has struggled in games that, on paper, it appears that they should win. The contest against the Lady Hornets was a very winnable game. And, although the Lady Riders trailed 1-0 at the half, they bounced back in the final 40 minutes to not only shut out the Lady Hornets on defense, but score twice to claim the momentous win in the seven-year history of the program.
"You would have thought we won the state championship tonight," said Center Head Coach Jonathan Vick, who saw his team snap a season-long four-game losing skid as the Lady Riders jumped back in the District 35-4A playoff chase.
"These girls deserve all the credit. They've really worked hard this year to achieve things that no other Center girls' soccer team has achieved before and they're determined to make a run at a playoff spot for the first time in the history of the program as well.
"Tonight was a big step; it's been a long time in coming. They didn't have their best game of the season, but they played well enough to win and they got that win and they deserve to celebrate for it. I won't take anything away from them."
Center improved to 7-8, which is the most wins by the program as well, as the Lady Riders moved into fifth place in the 35-4A race with a 1-4 mark. The top four teams qualify for the state soccer playoffs from the district. And, with the squad now halfway through the league chase, CHS is in control of their own destiny heading into the stretch drive.
"I really believe we can make the playoffs and these girls do too. But it's going to take a lot of hard work down the stretch to achieve that goal."
Norma Ruiz scored both goals in the second half for CHS, while Vick noted the play of defensive standouts Stephanie Araujo and Maria Medrano against the Lady Hornets.
"We have to overcome the obstacle of 'playing down' to our competition at times," Vick explained. "We need to make a solid run and play 80 minutes of good soccer any time we stop on the field because we have some very competitive games ahead of us. Palestine beat us 3-0 last time, but we were in the game until the end. I'd like to see us come out with more aggression like we were playing the first time we played them. If we do that, I think we've got a chance."
Center will have a large challenge in front of them on Friday night when they host Palestine, which entered play Wednesday night in a tie for second place with Jacksonville. The Palestine contest will be played at Roughrider Stadium because of construction work is being delayed in putting artificial turf in at Palestine High School. The varsity boys will play first at 5 p.m., followed by the junior varsity boys and varsity girls.