By Brian Argabright
While the high school soccer season has been over for a few weeks, the Del Rio Queens soccer team earned one more accolade this week.
Members of the Queens soccer team and coaching staff visited City Hall Tuesday to be honored by the city council with a key to the city and a certificate of recognition for their efforts during the 2020-21 season.
The Queens finished second in District 30-6A and qualified for the playoffs. And though they bowed out in the first round against San Antonio Taft, the Queens still earned plenty of awards from not just the coaches in the district, but from their own coaches as well.
Ten members of the team were recognized with all-district honors including two who were named the best at their respective positions.
Ema Rojas was named the District 30-6A All-District Forward of the Year. Rojas was the Queens’ leader in goals with 13, meaning she averaged just over one goal per district contest.
Laurie Ignacio was named the District 30-6A All-District Midfielder of the Year. Ignacio notched just one goal and one assist during district play, but her presence more than made up for it as she served as the perfect field general for the Queens.
Three Queens earned first team all-district honors. They were Jadyn Casillas, Jocelyn Martinez and Zoey Ortiz.
Casillas was second on the team with eight goals. She helped carry the Queens during the first half of district play and kept the team in contention for most of the season.
Martinez was Del Rio’s best defender and its top Queens soccer player in the classroom. Aside from being recognized for her work on the pitch, Martinez was also named to the all-district all-academic team and was named to the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches’ All-State All-Academic team. During the season she was ranked 35th in the high school’s senior class.
Ortiz was Del Rio’s top goalkeeper and pulled off a series of dazzling saves as she kept the Queens near the top of the district standings throughout the season.
Three juniors were placed on the all-district second team including Cassandra Ochoa, Yasmine Cardenas and Marintia Cortez.
Ochoa had four goals during district and continued to show why she’s going to be a forced to be reckoned with as a senior.
Cardenas was another of Del Rio’s top defenders and helped keep the pressure off Ortiz while serving as the perfect complement to Martinez.
Cortez was another of the Queens’ many playmakers and helped set up many a Del Rio scoring chance.
Freshman Andrea Sauceda and sophomore Xiltali Guadalajara were each recognized as all-district honorable mentions. Though both young, the two were part of head coach Wilber Rivas’ plan to bring in as many young players he could to give them varsity experience now versus holding them back until sub-varsity play could return. Both responded with play that helped the Queens return to the postseason.
Aside from the all-district awards, the Queens were also recognized locally by the coaches and their peers with a variety of team awards.
Cortez was named Most Improved and won the Dedication Award.
Sauceda and Alexis Segura shared the co-Newcomer of the Year award.
Ortiz was named Goalkeeper of the Year.
Martinez and Cardenas were named co-Defensive Players of the Year.
Ochoa and Ignacio were named co-Midfielders of the year.
Rojas was named Offensive Player of the Year.
Casillas was the team’s overall Most Valuable Player.
