The Jordan Panthers are on a mission for respect this season.
“I want other schools to view us as a tough opponent and as a team that will require them to play their best soccer,” Jordan second-year coach Sergio Villasenor said. “Our biggest game is the first league game (vs. Lakewood on Dec. 5) because it will show us if we are ready to be contenders.”
Jordan has a young team but senior captains Cynthia Rosales, Tatiana Hernandez-Perez, Britany Razo and junior captain Odalys Moreno will lead the way. Hernandez-Perez is back in goal after missing part of last year with an injury.
“I felt that her absence was the reason we suffered so many lopsided or blow out losses,” Villasenor said. “I look for her leadership skills making an impact on our defense.”
“We have to play hard and try our best not to give up,” Hernandez-Perez said. “We’re a team and we have to play like sisters. I know we can do this.”
Sophomore Maria Clemente is back in her attacking midfield position after gaining a lot of confidence on the field as a freshman, but most of the Jordan underclassman are inexperienced at the varsity level.
Villasenior said sophomores Anamarie Montoya and Melanie Moreno will start, and that freshman Grecia Pavon, sophomore Rebecca Gresham and junior Jessica Rivera will also be new impact players. Senior Esmeralda Hernandez is also new and comes from the softball program to play central defense.
“I’ve also initiated a summer program where we participated in summer tournaments which allowed the girls to get the feel for my style of coaching and to bond with fellow team members,” Villasenior said.
Jordan picked up a 2-0 win over Firebaugh to open the season this week. Genoveva Moral and Esmeralda Hernandez scored the goals for the Panthers, while Hernandez-Perez made nine saves for the clean sheet.
