The Memorial girls soccer team has been crushing it this season. They have an 12-1-3 record and are currently in first place with two District 4-5A games remaining.
The key to their success – their unity.
Coming from different powerhouse high schools Rider and Old High, the girls have united their efforts in order to succeed for the first season of Memorial Mavericks soccer.
Coach Rob Woodard is proud and credits their performance to team effort.
“I attribute our success to the girls coming together and playing as one unit,” Woodard said. “One team supporting each other and forgetting about where they came from, just coming together as Memorial Maverick soccer.”
A lot of the girls already played together in club soccer outside of school. Some other girls knew each other because they have always played against each other for years.
“I think it’s really cool and I think it’s really neat that we have different talents in different places that we never got to be able to put together,” said senior captain Addi Botello, who previously played at Wichita Falls High School. “Finally being put together, and it’s this all-power team now and it’s just everybody you need all in the right spots all together.”
Another captain is Aubrey Calderon, a senior from Rider. She is grateful for the bonds that she has created with the other girls.
“We get to connect with new people,” Calderon said. “Being a captain has really made me step up to be a leader and get to know each and every girl from all different schools and work together.”
For Woodard the most important thing is to take one game at a time because that’s the way you have to take it to be successful. Memorial’s only setback in district so far was a shootout loss against Legacy after tying 0-0. After beating Abilene on Friday, the Lady Mavs can avenge that game Tuesday.
“If you put too much emphasis on one game and it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, it could get into your mind,” Woodard said. “Into your psyche about moving forward.”
With the season going so well, the Memorial Mavericks girl soccer team has plans on finishing district strong and making a good run in the playoffs.
“I expect us to go out with a bang and continue it and finish it out,” Botello said. “Improve what we have and then hopefully go deep in our playoff rounds.”
Botello, who committed to play in college at Kansas Wesleyan, is excited to enjoy her last year playing high school soccer with the team.
“There’s no better outstanding team I would rather be with for my last year,” Botello said. “I do think that we still have more to give throughout the rest of the season. We still have a name to build for ourselves.”
