Jacks hope to build in year two of CWAC
MIKE MAYNARD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 1 week AGO
Players from the Quincy Jackrabbits girls soccer team line up on the field for a team photo at an Eastern Washington camp. It was their first year attending Head Coach Jesse Villalobos said.
FILE PHOTO
Lizbeth Diaz (16), Quincy, works to keep the ball in play against Lakeside last season. Head Jesse Villalobos said Diaz will likely takeover the center field spot in their starting lineup this season.
Quincy’s Gabriela Lopez (18) takes the ball from a Lakeside player during their game last season. Lopez is a rising junior and midfielder for the Jacks girls soccer team.
Jacks goalie Aylen Garcia dives to block a penalty kick against Lakeside last season.
QUINCY – After a promising first season in the Central Washington Athletic Conference, the Jacks girls soccer team is motivated. Head Coach Jesse Villalobos said he was thrilled with what his team accomplished last year.
“We were pretty happy with how far we got last year. We were able to win a district game the first year in the CWAC. We’re pretty proud of that accomplishment,” he said.
As Villalobos looks at his roster for 2025, he feels confident the Jacks will compete even better despite losing six of last year’s seniors.
He called their first year back in the CWAC a pilot year. Going into year one, they didn’t know what to expect. However, with a year under their belt, they know better what to expect in the league. He said it’s starting to show in practices, and he is encouraging intensity on the pitch.
Villalobos said midfielders were the Jacks’ biggest loss in their lineup. Michelle Gramajo was well rounded technically on the ball. The Jacks will need to fill that gap to win the ball back and maintain possessions. While the team has a set of strong starters, the squad isn’t as deep with experience as last year.
“There are a lot of underclassmen... we have two freshmen stepping into the varsity team, who are potential starters,” Villalobos said.
The Jacks brought in a young team with only one senior and four juniors this season, he said. He remains optimistic though. A handful of his players have club experience, but it will be important for them to build chemistry.
“A big part of our philosophy is building that camaraderie so the girls can sort of rely on each other and play for one another,” Villalobos said.
Scoring is a strength this year, he said, thanks to a camp the team attended over the summer. During the camp, the Jacks were able to score 10 goals in six matches.
He also said they should be well-rounded defensively. His upperclassmen fill out a backline he feels will present challenges for any opponent. Lizbeth Diaz will look to take over the center midfield spot. Arlene Bolanos, Hailey Courtade and Addison Compton will likely lead the Jacks in attacking.
The team appears focused and to have bought in on his vision for the season, he said.
“I think we're really looking forward to making a good postseason run. Coming off of last year, they're more experienced mentally, and they know they have to play a different brand of soccer to compete. That's keeping possession and making sure the tactics are there to keep the opposing teams from hitting the net and us creating chances,” he said.
Villalobos is confident his team will hit some of its goals this season. They want to finish in the top four of the CWAC and make a run for state. He said this year's Jacks can hang with anyone in the conference.
The Jacks open their season on the road against Davis High School on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.
Lizbeth Diaz (16), Quincy, works to keep the ball in play against Lakeside last season. Head Jesse Villalobos said Diaz will likely takeover the center field spot in their starting lineup this season.
Quincy’s Gabriela Lopez (18) takes the ball from a Lakeside player during their game last season. Lopez is a rising junior and midfielder for the Jacks girls soccer team.
Jacks goalie Aylen Garcia dives to block a penalty kick against Lakeside last season.ARTICLES BY MIKE MAYNARD
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