PROGRESS: Lady Pack showing improvement

Published 4:01 pm Friday, March 11, 2016

MICHAEL PRUNKA | DAILY NEWS TOEING THE LINE: Berenice Chavez dribbles down the sideline, trying to move forward without going out of bounds. She exploded for three goals and two assists in Washington’s win over Northeastern.

MICHAEL PRUNKA | DAILY NEWS
TOEING THE LINE: Berenice Chavez dribbles down the sideline, trying to move forward without going out of bounds. She exploded for three goals and two assists in Washington’s win over Northeastern.

The beginning of the season was a bit bumpy for Washington’s girls’ soccer team. The girls opened the season at Northeastern where they tied the Lady Eagles. They then met tough squads in Croatan and Dixon at the Battle at the Beach. The Lady Pack got shutout in both matches by a combined 16-0 score.

The Lady Pack is a young group. There are four upperclassmen — two juniors and two seniors — on the 18-girl roster. With that in mind, coach Ed Rodriguez is simply looking for progress from game to game.

“We’re a very young team. Mostly freshmen and sophomores, so we’re just improving every game,” Rodriguez said. “Every team we’ve played so far, we’re outnumbered by upperclassmen. … Every game we’re getting better.”

Improvement is exactly what he got this week. The girls earned their first win of the season in a 9-0 thumping of South Central. They then went on to level their early-season record at 2-2-1 on Thursday. The Lady Pack defeated Northeastern 6-2 in the back end of their home-and-home series with Northeastern.

Freshman Berenice Chavez led the offensive charge. She had something to do with five of the Lady Pack’s six goals. Early and often, sophomore Sydney Walker set up Chavez nicely with crosses from the right side. Chavez used Walkers passes to find the back of the net twice in the first 20 minutes — once with her foot and another time using her head.

“(Chavez) just transferred from Idaho this school year. She’s very good with both feet and she’s got a good knowledge of the ball,” Rodriguez said. “She knows how to read passing lanes. She can kick well with both left and right, which is a great asset. Imagine how good she’ll be once she gets two or three years in high school.”

Rodriguez’s focus is on this season, but he is excited to see how the team’s chemistry and skill continues to develop in coming years.

Chavez showed off her playmaking abilities in the second half. In the 47th minute, she worked around the left side of the penalty area before crossing the ball into junior Sydney Edwards, who beat the Northeastern goalkeeper.

MICHAEL PRUNKA | DAILY NEWS
STARTING FROM SCRATCH: This year’s Lady Pack is, more or less, a brand new squad. While young, the girls have proven to be quite talented, especially on the offensive end of the field.

Four minutes later, Chavez set up sophomore Jordan Prescott for a goal from the top of the box. Chavez went on to complete the hat trick just two minutes later in the 53rd minute.

Washington, while young, is packed with offensive talent. The girls are athletic and creative in the way they attack. While that may be nice to see out of freshmen and sophomores, Rodriguez would like to simplify their style until they get some more experience under their belt.

“We’ve been trying to work on making the easier play,” he said. “Until we get a little more experience and work with each other a little more, try to make the easy passes. Take what the defense gives you. Don’t try to do something that may be a little bit too far ahead.”