FRESNO COUNTY – Girls soccer teams in the Fresno County and Mid Valley Times region are now entering the most crucial stretch of their schedule this season. With less than a month of the season left to play, league play has already started, and some teams have surprised while others have stumbled coming out of the gate.
Before starting league play, the Cardinals went 2-10 in their previous 12 games. But now the Cardinals have put their preseason struggles behind them to jump out to a 3-0 record in the East-Sequoia-Redwood League (ESRL). Orosi secured 4-0 victories against Orange Cove and Wonderful College Prep Academy (WCPA), and they also slipped by Farmersville 1-0.
Orosi received some well-balanced scoring in their most recent game against WCPA, as four players contributed goals in the victory. Seniors Ashley Galvan, Sheyla Herrera, junior Yesenia Araujo and Sandra Valencia each scored a goal in the winning effort.
Orosi appears to have an inside track at winning their second consecutive ESRL title. Last season’s runner up, Farmersville, is off to a 2-1 start, while WCPA is just getting started, with a 1-1 record in league play so far. And with the Titans and Summer Charter Collegiate Academy (SCCA) at the bottom of the league standings with 0-2 records, everything appears to be set up for another Cardinals league title and possible postseason run.
Redcats ready to rumble in NWSL
Fowler girls soccer entered league play hoping to take a massive bite out of their opponents in the Northwest Sequoia League (NWSL). The Redcats are currently in a four-way tie with Fresno Christian, Liberty and Chowchilla for first place with a 2-0 record. Prior to their match against Fresno Christian on Jan. 21, the Redcats snarled their way to a four game winning streak.
Senior Melayna Vasquez, one of the top offensive players in the nation, leads the charge for the Redcats. Vasquez scored all five goals in their recent 5-1 victory against Yosemite. And Fowler will continue to follow behind the hot feet of Vasquez as they hope to free themselves from the logjam at the top of the NWSL.
The Redcats stand a good chance of climbing up the league ladder as their next four opponents – Sierra, Parlier, Riverdale and Caruthers – all have combined league records of 2-10. After their match against the Eagles, the Redcats will play Sierra on Jan. 24th.
Apaches on the warpath
Sanger varsity girls are once again having another stellar season fueled by high scoring and stingy defense. As the Apaches get ready to enter league play on Jan. 22 against Edison, they’ll continue to follow their scoring leader, Ava Martinez, all the way to the top of the County Metro-Athletic League (CMAC).
Sanger defeated league foe San Joaquin Memorial, 2-0, in a non-conference match on Jan. 15. In that game, Martinez scored a goal and collected 2 points to keep the Apaches rolling right along. In their next game, a 10-0 dismantling of Madera, Martinez scored 2 goals on 5 points.
With Martinez leading the charge, it’s difficult to see the Apaches getting knocked off their horses in the CMAC. Right now, Bullard (7-6-1), is the only other team in their league that poses any credible threat. Last season, Sanger fended off the Knights by one victory to win the CMAC.
