File photo – The Del Norte girls in action last season.
By Ray Hamill — Both Del Norte soccer teams will kick off the new season at Fortuna on Wednesday with a nice mixture of youth and experience.
After struggling with numbers in the spring, the girls team has a far more complete roster this fall, with 17 players on hand, including five seniors.
“Well, it’s nice to have a full team,” said coach Jeff Cook, who added that things have been going “not too bad,” as they install a new system and welcome a new coach this year.
Joining Cook on the sidelines is long-time local youth soccer coach Cyndi Hansen, who brings over 10 years coaching experience to the program.
“She has lots of experience and really wants to build up the program,” Cook said.
Key to that progress will be the play of five seniors on this year’s roster, including returners Kaylee Jackson and Alyssa McCovey.
Joining them are three seniors who return to the team after missing last season — Alissa Roach, Mary Kate Wong and Vianna Vongphachan — and all of whom are expected to provide some much-needed leadership.
Also back and expected to have an impact are Jasmine Palmerin, Channey Schaad, Anyessa Bettega and Victoria Avalos, each of whom got a lot of playing time in the spring season because the Warriors had few subs, if any, for every game.
“It’s a pretty athletic group of girls,” the coach said. “The freshmen that are coming in are pretty athletic.”
As for the league, the Warriors will have their hands full against some of the more established programs in the Big 5, but they won’t shy away from the challenge, with eyes on building for the future under Hansen.
“We’re just rebuilding the program,” Cook said. “Of course we want to win, but right now it’s about getting them used to playing together.”
The girls play Fortuna at 7 p.m.
Del Norte boys feature nice mixture of experience and youth
the boys team, meanwhile, will also start the new season as underdogs in the Big 5, but are embracing the challenge.
“Fortuna has won league for seven (straight) years. I just want to challenge my boys to go all out and see what happens,” head coach David Sanyaolu said. “Lets shoot for the moon. Why not?”
The coach will rely heavily on a core group of seniors, including co-captains Jin Vue and Chase Gardner, who will anchor the team’s defense, with Gardner moving back from the front line this fall.
“They’re very solid, very reliable leaders,” Sanyaolu said.
The team will also rely heavily on the creativity of senior midfielder Isaiah Sherman.
“This is their fourth year playing with us,” the head coach said of the seniors. “I’m hoping that everything will come together for them this year.”
All in all, the Warriors feature a nice mixture of experience and youth on their 24-man roster.
“We have just the right mix of the classes. It’s a very good blend this year,” Sanyaolu said. “I like the experience (of the older players) and the energy of the younger players, and also their willingness to listen and play beautiful fundamentals, good ball touch and good ball control.
“I want my players to do the fundamentals right.”
The boys play at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
