Sahuaro’s girls’ soccer team got off to a rocky start due to Coach Luis – who was just hired for the upcoming season – resigning during tryouts. Now the team proudly welcomes their new head coach. Coach Nerri decided to step up and be the team’s new leader along with assistant coaches Meghan and Sam.

Freshman Ariana Vasquez, a player on the team, says, “I feel like ever since Coach Luis has left, we’ve been working as a team way better and getting along better. Our drills are more effective and I’m learning a lot more with Coach Nerri.”

As the new team members work with the returning players, the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming matches are undeniable. The Sahuaro community is eager to support the girls and watch them shine on the field. Coming up on November 21st is a scrimmage against Desert View High School. Their first official game is against Palo Verde on December 5th.

The team captains are Venisa Sanchez-Hermosillo and Zariyah Whitlock, referred to as “Z” and “V” by the team. They were selected because of their natural leadership skills and school spirit. Zariyah said, “We’re looking forward to scoring goals and winning games.”

The team has already set ambitious goals for the season, aiming to build on last year’s successes and push further in regional competitions. Venisa said, “I look forward to just winning games and playing with my new team.”

Coach Nerri mentioned that the team had a strong offensive lineup. While she wouldn’t necessarily consider it a weakness, the team’s defensive lineup needs improvement.  She said, “We have really good chemistry and it’s a good team. I feel like everyone has potential.” She also shared, “I don’t think there are any girls out there that are better than the rest of the team. I think everyone brings their own set of skills to the table.”