Last year, it was just like old times for the Bonita Vista High School girls soccer team. The Lady Barons returned to what for many years was their familiar position as the dominant power in the South Bay. Bonita Vista posted an unblemished 8-0 league record, went 18-4-2 overall and advanced to the second round of the San Diego Section playoffs.
Having lost much of the core of that impressive team to graduation, veteran coach Ryan Marquez will be hard pressed to field a team this season that will measure up to that standard. Despite the notable departures, the Lady Barons should be highly competitive.
BV’s most distinguished returnee is senior striker Pascale Dumesnil. A year ago, this first team all-league forward scored seven goals and recorded 12 assists despite missing substantial time. Having secured a scholarship to play for the University of Washington, Dumesnil won’t have to worry about recruiting trips this season. Therefore, she will likely make a greater impact.
“Regardless of whether she is scoring goals or helping us to create them, Pascale creates a lot of havoc for opposing defenses,” Marquez said. “She is our biggest threat.”
Dumesnil will often be joined up front by sophomore Natalya Romaine and freshman Scarlette Camberos. Romaine was a 10-goal scorer a year ago as a freshman and scored four goals in the first 10 games this season.
The BV midfield was gutted with the loss of 2014 Metro-Mesa League Player of the Year Kianna Brevig and all-league midfielder Aleena Cruz, both four-year starters. This season, it will be attack-oriented Amanda Castillo’s opportunity to shine in the midfield. Castillo delivered 12 goals a year ago.
“Amanda has been battling some injuries this season, but once she comes around she will help us quite a bit,” Marquez explained. “She is a proven goal-scorer and very intense.”
Castillo will share the attacking midfield role with junior Shae Provencher. Little sister Torrye Provencher, a freshman, will often fill the role of defensive midfielder.
The key to the Barons back line is all-league center back Emily Sherman. “Emily has been our center back for the last three years, she is very consistent,” Marquez said. “When you lose as many outstanding players as we have you need somebody to step up to provide veteran leadership. Emily fills that role for us.”
Sherman will work with junior Hortensia Solis in the middle and sophomore Marcela Macias on the right flank. Returning all-league star Nikki Miranda will play on the left flank. Miranda and Macias have good speed and an attacking mentality. Like Miranda, Macias can also play effectively on the forward line as a winger.
A rash of early season injuries has required Marquez to frequently cut and paste his lineup. Therefore, it has been difficult for him to assess how good this team can be. But the previously injured players are slowly starting to return so there is cause for optimism. How this team will match up against those from perennial rivals Eastlake, Otay Ranch and Hilltop will be interesting to observe in the coming weeks.
Metro-Mesa League Scoreboard
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Bonita Vista 7, Mater Dei Catholic 0
Otay Ranch 0, Olympian 0
Thursday, Jan. 22
Bonita Vista 3, Eastlake 0
Otay Ranch 0, Mater Dei Catholic 0
