Chelan Goats soccer team hungry for more

CHELAN - Jamie Richards is back for another year as head coach of the Chelan High School boys soccer team along with assistant coach Gilberto Romero.

Retuning to the squad are 20 boys, six of them seniors, for a total of 32 varisty and junior varsity players. Thirty-two might seem as a high number, however Richards mentions that the numbers are down from previous years. “We typically have eight to 10 new freshman coming in.” This year they only had four.

Richards highlights the important role Salvador Villanueva will play this year for the team, “he’s going to be our rock in the middle, players will feed off him.” Jonathan Ramirez, Luis Mendez are also key players as they will be “the spine” of the team with their creativity as they attack.

The Goats won the league title last year, yet for the first time in years they didn’t make it passed district qualifiers. The team has been top four in the state three times, they have seven league titles said coach.

Many of the returning players are eager to make it further this time around and coach Richards excepts them to take it one game at a time. “If we can grow at each game, we can blossom at the right time, he said.

The team is looking like they will be playing a “pretty game this year.” They all are learning at a rapid pace and “they know what they need to do to get to there,” said Romero.

The coaches encourage the player’s parents to come out and support the team in order to keep them motivated. The Goats will be facing Kiona Benton at Mountain Goat Field on Saturday, March 16 for a non-league match (weather permitting), kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.