MSHSAA announced on Monday, Mar. 16 that they would not be cancelling spring sports due to the Coronavirus. There will be delays to the start of the season and you can read the full MSHSAA release on spring sports by clicking here. Many area schools have called off classes and extracurricular activities through at least Apr. 3 and will reassess at that time. We will continue to post our spring previews. Please note that this preview was written before delays for the spring season were announced.
By Chris Parker
Coach Mike Thach enters his third season leading the Aurora girls soccer program. The Lady Houn’ Dawgs are still looking for the program’s first 10-win season, but they are trending in the right direction after a good off-season.
“We have had a good off-season with our young players working on the very fundamentals of the game,” Thach said. “Most of these ladies have not played the games since the fourth or fifth grade. There has been much improvement, but much more improvement needed.”
Senior Cecelia Reyes returns to lead Aurora after earning first-team all-conference honors as a midfielder last year.
“Cecelia will be the mainstay of our team. She plays with a motor that won’t quit and an intensity to match,” Thach said.
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Angelina Alcoba and Sarai Reyes will anchor the midfield this season. Bella Maggio and Billie McKinley will help with the outside-mid role. Devany Davis, Chloe Ryan and Kenzie Hall will help with Aurora’s defense. Of that group, only Ryan, Maggio and Alcoba have had much varsity experience.
Aleah Pineda will be a player to watch for Aurora. She has a great motor and intensity according to Thach. Bethany Rogers returns as goalkeeper this year.
Aurora will focus on the basics in hopes of increasing its win total.
“We did not have the season we expected last year with wins and losses, so we will concentrate on learning the game, fundamentals of the game and be competitive in all our games,” Thach said. “This group of ladies work hard together and will not give up. Our success will depend upon our ability to play as a team throughout the year.”
