Ladies soccer team has strong leaders

Five players return; no goalie yet

By Matt Anderson
Sports Writer

After a good run in the playoffs last year, the soccer team is back and ready for another run for the NJCAA division title.

The team is under the direction of coach Jim Benedek, who is a former Olympian, and Adrian Gonzalez, who is in his second year with the team as assistant coach.

The team finished 8-4-1 and placed third overall in the conference after getting eliminated by Eastfield in the playoffs.

“We have a good team with strong leadership from our returning players. They are helping the new girls learn the style of play we want, and the team has a strong connection, which improves teamwork,” said Gonzalez.

Some of the strong team leaders are Monica Bacon, Silvia Rezendez and Tina Dreir. Overall, the team has five returning players who all bring a good knowledge of the game and a good understanding of the game to the field.

Along with the returning ladies, the team has added some new faces to the team, 10 overall. Among those are Sierra Rodriguez and Lindsey Harris, who are surprising standouts.

Coach Gonzalez played for 10 years in Mexico for Club Chivas of Guadalajara, as well as four years of professional experience in the U.S., and has his A-license for coaching by USA Soccer.

Gonzalez feels that the team is better than last year and will be a major contender for the title this season.

“The overall skill for the game and the knowledge for what to do in certain situations for the game has improved,” he said. “The girls really understand what we as coaches are trying to teach.”

The team doesn't have a set goalie yet so the coaches are rotating in three good net-minders in Katie Hall, Jenna Gordon and Enber Perez.

Until one of the potential goalies emerges as the number one keeper, teams will see a different goalie in every game, which will make them difficult to scout and should give them an edge against rivals Cedar Valley and Richland, who always seem to have strong teams.

“We are four and one. I think this is the best start to the season we have had since I have been coaching here,” said Benedek.

With the season still young, the North Lake Ladies soccer team is looking to add their own national title banner to be placed next to the men's basketball NJCAA banner from last year.