By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
As the weather’s temperatures drop, it signals not just the return of jackets and heaters but the return of soccer at Del Rio High School.
For the Queens soccer team, it also means the start of the games that count.
The Queens had five scrimmages in December, finishing up that run with a 3-1-1 mark.
It began with a 1-1 draw with San Antonio Reagan on Dec. 10. Del Rio’s lone goal came from senior Cassandra Ochoa.
“We started working and passing the ball well, but were playing high pressure and on a counterattack Reagan was able to score first,” Queens head coach Wilber Rivas said. “ We continued to fight and after putting pressure on Reagan’s goalkeeper Cassandra Ochoa was able to find the back of the net for the equalizer. It was a well-balanced match, both teams created many opportunities on goal.”
Four days later Del Rio took on a tough San Angelo Central squad. The odds were not in Del Rio’s favor as Central took the match, 6-0.
“It was a good competitive match until San Angelo was able to break through our defense and able to strike from 20 yards to take the lead. We were adapting to a new formation (scheme) with our center backs, but they couldn’t stop San Angelo from scoring,” Rivas said. “The girls never gave up and created a few opportunities but just came up short.”
Del Rio picked up its first win of the scrimmage schedule Dec. 17 against San Antonio Cornerstone. Senior Jadyn Casillas set up the match’s only goal as she moved in from the left, dribbled through the middle of the field and then found Giselle Castañeda, who scored.
“We played better than our previous match. We were able to contain the individual talents from Cornerstone,” Rivas said. “After our goal, Cornerstone kept coming and wanted to tie, but our defense was better positioned this time.”
Del Rio closed out its scrimmages with a 12-0 rout of Eagle Pass C.C. Winn on Dec. 21, and a 2-0 win over the Queens soccer alumni team on Dec. 28.
This is a season that marks the end of an era in Queens soccer. Last year’s squad had just two seniors, but this year there are six seniors – the Queens’ newest golden group, if you will – as they were the catalysts of a return to the playoffs as freshmen. They’ve been to the playoffs in two of the past three years with the lone non-playoff season due to the cancellation of games in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s seniors are Casillas (2021 first team all-district), Ochoa (2021 second team all-district), Zoey Ortiz (2021 first team all-district), Marintia Cortez (2021 second team all-district), Yasmine Cardenas (2021 second team all-district) and Kayla Celedon.
The Queens are set to kickoff their regular season Tuesday when they host Midland High. Sub-varsity plays at 4:30 p.m., while varsity plays at 6 p.m. at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
