RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - This year the Lady Lancers faced off against some of the strongest competition in the greater Sacramento area, playing the likes of Granite Bay, Rocklin, and St. Francis. They finished the season with 15 wins-7 losses- and 1 draw.  In league play the Lancer’s ended up in a tie for 1^st place with West Campus. Both teams were 11-1 in league play, with each team beating the other by a score of 1-0. With this record, Cordova High School Girls soccer program secured their repeat as champions of the Greater Sacramento League (GSL) even though this was a co-championship.  Cordova Head Coach, Jay Ramey, in his 5^th year at the helm couldn’t have been more proud of his Lady Lancer squad. 

The CHS girls accomplished this achievement on their home field, in front of their friends and family on Senior Night after their victory over Foothill High School by a score of 8-0 in the season finale. Cordova honored six seniors that night: 4-year Lancer Maria Ceja, 4-year starter and past Defensive Player of the year Sophia Trujillo, 3-year Lancer Jazmyne Medeiros, first year exchange student from Italy Emma Reggio, and 4 year Lancer players and co-captains Elizabeth “Ellie” Abdulla and Briahna “Bre” Cruz.

Seniors Abdulla and Cruz led the Lancers all season. “Every year coaching at Cordova, I have been fortunate to have captains that are true leaders and just wonderful people. I knew two years ago Bre and Ellie were going to be my captains this year”, said Coach Ramey.

One of the Lancers’ standout players this year was Trujillo, who was a stalwart and exceptional defender.  Time after time leading the defense, Trujillo would turn the attack. Another standout was junior and three-year starter Dajey Valdez, who was seemingly in every counterattack and averaging over a goal per game. Her leadership in the middle of the field with central field partners sophomore Madison Harder and sophomore Savannah Fennel were key to the success of the team this year.

New to the team this year was freshman Karen Gonzales. Karen made an immediate impact up front.  Coach Ramey said, “Karen fit right into the system we played.  If there was a goal scored, she was regularly part of the process”.  Gonzales had over 15 assists this year. Also new to the team this year was sophomore Jennifer “Jen” Ceja. Ceja transferred from the South Bay Area and made an immediate impact on the team. Jen player 9 of the 11 positions this year. Coach Ramey stated, “Jen is one of the best utility players I have seen. She has speed, great foot work and is a highly intelligent player.”  Coach Ramey looks forward to seeing the growth over the next few years of both Karen and Jen.

The future looks pretty bright for the Lady Lancers. Returning next year will be All-League goalkeeper Sydney Murphy. Sydney had an exceptional year as goalie for the Lady Lancers allowing only one goal all season. Also returning is a strong crop of young talent: freshman Sienna Aguilar, freshman Arianna Cisneros, freshman Payton Stalker and junior Danielle Yeater.

The first playoff game was against Whitney High school at Whitney High School on Monday, February 13^th for the first round of the CIF San Joaquin section playoffs. For an update on how the team performed in the playoffs contact the Cordova High Athletic Department. GO BIG RED!