Girls soccer 2010-11 season preview

No team in the county is entering the 2010-11 season riding a bigger wave of success than Esperanza.

On the heels of a 2009-10 season that saw the Aztecs complete an unbeaten campaign with both CIF-SS Division 1 and Southern California Division 1 Regional titles, Esperanza will look to start the journey to successfully defend both with a strong showing in the preseason.

Click here for the O.C. Top 10 and key dates for the season

Click here for the O.C. girls soccer players to watch

Click here for the 10 preseason matches to watch

Aztecs coach John King said the goals for his team during the season's first month (which includes games in the Aliso Cup Tournament, the Mater Dei Premier Invitational and the Excalibur Tournament) will be to bond and gain an understanding of what it will take to be successful.

"We want to play in tough games, so come time for the league season, we'll know what we're capable of doing and how to win those games," King said.

Any thoughts of a successful title defense will also depend on new players stepping up. Though the Aztecs return all-county junior forward Rylee Baisden, sisters AB and Nosa Ogiamien, and midfielder Courtney Kay among others, they did lose all-county players Katie Gallanes and Melissa Laxamana, along with second team all-county players Lacie Carver and Erica Mazeau, to graduation.

While King concedes that replacing the graduated talent will be difficult, he is confident a deep roster of returning players that contributed in several big games last season will help.

"I don't think we can replace them, but we do have players that were able to get some minutes last year," King said. "We just have to have players that grow with each game and play their roles."

Another new challenge for Esperanza will be to acclimate itself to competition in a new league. The Aztecs leave the Sunset League for the Century League, where they will take on teams with players within the same geographical area that have played with and against them in various club organizations.

That fact, according to King, will make the road to a league title more interesting and challenging than it may seem.

"Every team that we play is going to be familiar with our girls," he said. "I think all the games are going to be rivalry type games and really competitive because of that."

King has a simple edict for the Aztecs to follow if they want to experience another championship season.

"We just have to play to our potential and do what we have to do to be successful," he said.

EAGLES RISING?

One team looking to prevent the Aztecs repeat championship run is Santa Margarita, which had its 2009-10 season ended by Esperanza in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals.

Eagles coach Chuck Morales has seen a number of talented teams during his 17-year tenure, but feels that this year's team could be his best.

"Across the board, we have a lot of good players and this is a group that does a lot of good things," said Morales. "It is early and we have to stay healthy, temper the expectations and see where we are once we get into competitive situations."

The Eagles' attack begins with senior forward Lauren Bohaboy. The reigning Register Player of the Year tallied a school-record 28 goals, and Morales said she is ready for another dominant season.

"She is a strong and confident player that and has set a lot of goals for herself this season," he said.

In addition to Bohaboy, Santa Margarita boasts a lineup that features all-Trinity League first-team goalie Haley Guerrero and midfielders Leigh Edwards and Taylor Krebs, along with all-league second-team defenders Mackenzie Cochran and Gabi Ozer, and forward Samantha Trenary.

According to Morales, the Eagles have one mindset as they begin their season.

"Our goal is to play on the first Saturday in March because only champions play in March," he said.