Russellville soccer teams look to take next step
This season looks to be another promising one for the Russellville High School soccer program, led by head coach Trey Stanford.
The RHS boys are looking to take the next step and get the school’s first soccer state championship after finishing second in Class 4A-5A this past year. A huge crowd followed the team to Huntsville for the championship semi-finals and finals a season ago, and there are high hopes for this year’s squad.
“Our goal is the same as it was last year, and that’s to win the state title,” Stanford said. “First it’s going to be to win the area. If we can win the area, then we’ll take it one game at a time. If we can win one game at a time, I think we have all the potential in the world to win a state championship.”
Russellville returns many standouts this season, with Juan Cano, Orlando Jimenez, Vicente Machic, Yamilson Velasquez, Daniel Juan, Jonathan Salgado, Luis Sandoval, Elisiano Juan, Bernardo Ponce and Emanuel Villegas expected to start. Luis Salgado will be the goal keeper, replacing Daniel Martinez, who graduated.
The Russellville girls have senior goal keeper Jayna Poss back this year after the team had play-off success this past season. Associate head coach Fred Ambrosio is helping the program improve each year, and the girls are making gains. Ermalina Ponce, Yoseline Figueroa, Griselda Felix, Jessica Lugo, Katlyn James, Kathy Sanchez, Miriam Sanchez, Ashley Garcia, Hannah Figueroa and Nadia Mendez are listed as starters, along with Poss.
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RUSSELLVILLE VARSITY BOYS SOCCER ROSTER
No. Name
1 Mario Jimenez
2 Martin Tomas
3 Elmer VillaLobos
4 Luis Sandoval
6 Emanuel Villegas
7 Juan Cano
8 Bernardo Ponce
10 Christian Merida
11 Jonathan Salgado
12 Antony Garcia
13 Erik Jacobo
15 Daniel Juan
17 Yamilson Velasquez
18 Addison Vicente
19 Orlando Jimenez
20 Raymond Espana
21 Elisiano Juan
22 Luis Salgado
29 Manny Martinez
30 Vicente Machic
RUSSELLVILLE VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER ROSTER
No. Name
3 Ermalina Ponce
4 Yoseline Ramos
5 Jayna Poss
6 Griselda Felix
7 Yoseline Figueroa
8 Hannah Figueroa
9 Ashley Perez
10 Katlyn James
11 Mariela Juan
13 Ashley Garcia
14 Melanie Trejo
17 Miriam Sanchez
18 Catalina Mateo
24 Jessica Lugo
26 Maria Francisco
29 Gloria Sop
30 Nadia Mendez
31 Kathy Sanchez
