Team of the Week: Headline-makers a year ago, Southwestern College players lead women’s soccer team to No. 4 national ranking
The San Diego Union-Tribune
By Bill Center | bill.center@utsandiego.com
You might remember the Southwestern College women's soccer team.
Eleven months ago, at the conclusion of the 2023 soccer season, 11 Jaguars joined the basketball team to save that sport's season from being canceled due to the lack of players.
"Some of us had never played organized basketball before," said Ariana Lieras. "I'm 5-foot-4, not exactly basketball height. But we met as a team and decided we'd play basketball to save that season. We were so new to basketball that we used soccer throw-ins to inbound the ball."
Playing basketball actually brought the soccer players closer.
"We still talk about it," Lieras said of the basketball experience. "We share laughs about some embarrassing memories … like losing 100-2."
But that experience last basketball season is paying dividends this fall.
Eight of the basketball fill-ins from a year ago are the key players on a Southwestern College women's soccer team that is 11-0-1 and ranked fourth in the nation.
The Jaguars rank second among California community colleges with 49 goals scored. They are No. 1 in defense, allowing just three goals in 12 games.
"This team is really close," says Jaguars coach Catalina Soto. "They're devoted to each other. They have each other's backs. Basketball had a lot to do with the bonding. And we've got players dedicated to hard work … players who are able to adjust and overcome."
The Jaguars have succeeded without two key players.
Yulitza Castorena, the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year last season after scoring 23 goals, has missed more than a month with a hamstring injury. And central defender Julia Hermosillo was lost for the season with a knee injury.
The loss of Hermosillo led to Lieras being moved back from defensive midfield to central defender, a key position on a team where defense takes precedence.
"I prefer playing in the midfield," said Lieras, a product of Hilltop High School. "But defense is where I'm needed. Hey, last year I started a couple basketball games and I can't really tell you what position I was playing. But our defense in soccer is pretty special. We have great chemistry on defense. We move great to make adjustments as a unit. We take a lot of pride in not giving up goals."
The Jaguars' defense-oriented game uses 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 alignments.
It helps that the Jaguars have an outstanding goaltender in Aaliyah Campbell, who was recently named the PCAC Athlete of the Month for September. Her goals-against average — 0.18.
Although Campbell is a transfer from UC Riverside, she and most of the Jaguars have roots in the South Bay.
"I'm passionate about having homegrown players," said Soto, who grew up in Chula Vista and went to Montgomery High School.
"We have players here. And we have academic programs. The majority of our players played with each other or against each other. We've established a rapport in the area. We really care. We're proud to represent our community."
Soto, who played on the Southwestern College field as a youth, is in her 12th year at the school and her ninth as the Jaguars head coach. "I wanted to come back to this campus," she said.
Soto described 2024 as a "turnaround" season after the Jaguars finished second in the PCAC last year and finished ranked 17th in the state.
"We've always been a competitive program," said Soto. "We've won a couple conference titles. Last year we had a very young team. They've grown. They're very disciplined. And we're pushing them. We care about them. We stress academics.
"It's the team dynamic and experience that sets us apart."
Castorena, Lieras and Gialli Francisco were all-conference players last year. The key addition this season was Campbell, a 19-year-old All-CIF pick and the Metro Mesa League Player of the Year while at Bonita Vista High School who had decided to give up soccer after being injured as a freshman at UCR.
A talk with Soto changed Campbell's mind.
"She helped me find my love again for soccer and helped me bring back confidence," Campbell said. "But a lot of credit for my success goes to the team. We're really good at getting back when the other team is attacking. There are few chances where shots come off."
The 5-foot-7 Campbell is getting noticed internationally. Her mother was born in Thailand and recently Campbell has been scouted by the Thai women's national team as well as a professional team (Chonvuri) there.
"But coming to Southwestern is the best thing that ever happened to me," said Campbell. "This team feels more like family. There's a lot of support on and off the field."
"We have a strong defense, but Campbell has been phenomenal," said Soto. "She's gone from someone who didn't want to play to someone who could play professionally in Thailand."