By: Seth Lopez
Ranger women’s soccer is off to a very hot start this season. Defeating any opponent they see with a 9-0-2 record. This Wednesday, The Lady Rangers take on the defending league champions Hanford bullpups home at the Mineral King bowl.
Last year the Lady Rangers had an impressive season going 7-1-2 in the league but that one loss was given up to the league leaders Hanford Bullpups. Last year’s impressive Bullpups had 11 seniors on the squad making it almost a brand new team this year.
Leading into the game on Wednesday the bullpups are not starting the season off strong with a 3-9-4 record.
Talking to starting goalie Olivia Saenz ‘23 she feels like the team has a lot to prove this year, as there is a lot of competition. Saenz says, “I think we have the target on our back this year because Hanford did lose a lot of their good players and we have been winning all of our league games so far.”
To say the Lady rangers have been dominant this year would be an understatement. Goalkeeper Saenz has only allowed two goals in 11 games. Even though she is a top goalie in the league her success does not all come from her amazing talent. She gets help from her defenders Elise Hyde ‘22, Dakota Espinoza ‘23, Alyssa Hernandez ‘24, who are all key forces in the Ranger lineup.
On the other end of the field, you have Paityn Bruce ‘24 who is having an amazing season. Last year as a freshman she missed out on leading the league in goals by just two goals. Bruce is starting right back where she left off and is leading the league right now with 12 goals.
Bruce says, “I just try to keep that up, I don’t worry too much about it”.
The defending league champions, The Hanford Bullpups, are playing favorites to win the league and more. If you can not make the game it will be livestreamed on The Redwood Gigantea’s Youtube channel.
Tags: girls soccer, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood girls soccer, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, Redwood Soccer, redwood sports, rhs, varsity girls soccer
