As this year’s women’s varsity soccer season ends, The Wrangler congratulates them on a great season. With seven straight wins in January, the team secured the 2024-2025 League Championship, moving on to the first playoff. While they were unfortunately unable to move on to the next round of CIF, they fought fiercely until the end in the intense game. Tied for the majority of the time, the players demonstrated talented moves and resilience. The girls won several well-played games this season, deserving a celebration of their successes. Additionally, as students begin planning for the upcoming school year, they may consider joining the valued soccer program at Yorba Linda High School.
Robert Fuller and Erica Schmaltz lead the team, along with senior captains Zoey Holman, Addie Vallero, and Tatum Scialdone. They dedicate countless hours to the sport, making sure the girls are strong both mentally and physically. The coaches plan drills and practices that train them to keep the ball in control and hone their skills. “Scoring goals is the most difficult thing to do in the game of soccer- so I like designing training sessions that allow players to be more successful at accomplishing this important skill,” Coach Fuller (S) shares. While most soccer programs have a direct style of playing, YLHS’s women’s soccer team has a ball possession approach; while it is much more difficult, it is fun to play and creates numerous opportunities to score.
Watching the team play is an invigorating experience; there is always a sense of balance on the field, and the varsity players work expertly together. Through shared team meals, Coach Schmaltz (S) expresses, “the girls bonded with each other and built chemistry as a team. My favorite memories are the times we played well and worked hard for the entire 70 minutes.”
The spirit in the games is clear, and the girls support each other through both wins and losses. “Our away game against La Habra was where I saw a ton of great build-up plays that resulted in some fun goals and great defense…we just dominated,” Coach Schmaltz (S) says. Among the great plays, the away game against Crean Lutheran was an astounding way to end the season. In the last 20 minutes, the girls made a comeback after being down 0-2 and won the game with a score of 3-2. Coach Schmaltz (S) continues, “It just showed the heart and the grit these ladies have, not to mention the talent they possess. It was a true privilege to coach them this season.”
To students considering joining the women’s soccer team, it’s a valuable way to develop skills and become proficient at the sport. The coaches and captains are always there to lend assistance, and with their extraordinary leadership and players’ support, being on the team is surely an inspiring experience. As some final words of advice from the coaches, work on your ball mastery skills (passing, collecting, ball control), have passion and willingness to engage in deliberate practice, and have a great attitude. Coach Fuller (S) affirms, “If someone loves to play soccer, and if they want to improve their soccer skills as well as their understanding of the game, they will love the soccer program here at Yorba Linda High School.”
