The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
The Cabrillo Girls Soccer team has become accustomed to change – especially when it comes to their head coach.
Adriana Santillan is taking over the program this year as the Jags’ third head coach in the last four years as she looks to bring stability to Cabrillo soccer.
“My goal for them is obviously to provide some consistency,” she said. “I keep talking to them about setting the foundation this year. I know it’s a bummer for some of the seniors, but I have to be realistic about where we’re at and what we have. So we’re just being realistic and setting goals while creating a competitive but fun environment for them and for the rest, setting a foundation for the next seasons and the expectations.”
Santillan has a big group of returning seniors who have been with the program through the coaching changes, and she says they have been huge in her transition to the team. The Jags’ will be led by four key seniors in Sarahi Soto, Demi Morales, Stephanie Salgado, and Cinthia Garcia Lopez.
“The group of seniors that we have that have seen [the change] from start to finish have a really good leadership role amongst the team.” said Santillan. “They keep everyone accountable on the team from freshman to other seniors in terms of discipline and other traits. I think the seniors have a good head on their shoulders and are leading the group well.”
The Jags’ will have the most experience in the middle of the field in senior center midfielders Soto and Morales.
“I just try to do my best and keep the environment positive,” said Soto about leading her team. “We just try to keep going and keep pushing, just keep our composure.”
“[Soto] has been very helpful to me in getting to know the school. She’s been a really good guide of the team and been a rock for us,” added Santillan. “[And Morales], she’s just consistent and she controls the ball in the center of the field area. She’s been an awesome player to coach outside of school and I’m excited to see how she can control the middle of the field for us as a Jaguar.”
Those two will look to feed the Jags’ strikers which is a position Santillan says has been a mix of different players. She said that she has a heavier set of midfielders and defenders, but pointed out Morales and sophomore Kimora Lee Byther as potential strikers who are strong and fast players that will be able to help finish on offense.
A couple marquee matches for the Jags’ will be against Lakewood along with their 710 rivalry versus Jordan. Cabrillo has drawn with Jordan the last two years.
“If we can figure out where we’re at with our new freshman and see what we have with this year’s team I think those two will be our most competitive games. I think it’s just a matter of going in with the right strategy and keeping our heads on our shoulders to stay focused and competitive in those games.”
