Russellville soccer teams look to take next step

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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