By Marcus Tolero/Photo by Eric Sun
The CCSF Women’s Soccer team arrives at the mid-season point with a sterling 8-1-3 record. But the number on everyone’s mind is seven.
The Rams, who hold a 4-0-1 record in conference play, are once again in a familiar position to capture a conference title. If the Rams win it, this would be the program’s seventh consecutive Coast-North Conference Championship.
Head Coach Jeff Wilson, who took over the Women’s Soccer program during the summer, said that one of his goals was to continue the Rams’ impressive run of success within their division. Now that the Rams are at the halfway point of the season, the goal is coming into clearer focus.
“I am very impressed with how the women have responded to the challenges they have faced thus far. Early on, many struggled with the new formation we had asked them to embrace but they have adjusted well since and are now starting to reap the rewards of it.
“Our character has held strong up to this point and we continue to look at our performances and figure out how we can continue to improve and be at our best when in matters most. It is great to be undefeated in league at present moment but we are a long way from being satisfied and know that it will take hard work and focus to win the title we seek,” Wilson said.
It is clear that after 12 games into the season that the Rams’ sophomores are guiding this year’s team to a potential conference title. Forward Jesse Bareilles has been a scoring virtuoso for the Rams. She’s compiled a team-leading 23 goals and 49 points. Fellow sophomores Daniela Guitierrez and Olivia DelRossa have also added to the Rams’ dominant frontline after being moved out of their familiar positions of midfielder and outside defender to wing forwards. Their transition has been seamless and have provided exactly what the team has needed as witnessed by DelRosso’s team-leading four assists and Gutierrez's three assists and one goal. On the backline, Jazzlene Herrera and Rebecca Killmartin have been defensive stalwarts, turning opposing attacks into scoring opportunities as evident by Herrera's goal and Killmartin’s two assists.
Wilson’s impressive freshmen core have also contributed to the Rams’ extraordinary start. Freshmen midfielders Angelica Gonzalez and Danielle Nicotera have two goals apiece and are tied for third on the team with five total points. But the most impressive of the freshmen is Gabriella Beemsterboer, who started the year as a forward but moved to goalkeeper midseason. In a three-game span in early October, Beemsterboer allowed only two goals, saved 10 shots, and pitched a shutout.
“Consistency is what is going to determine how well we end up doing. I feel that we have the pieces to compete with anyone but we must find a way to continue to fix our mistakes and build on our strengths. Thus far each member of the team have stepped up in a big way, but must continue to improve and bring intensity and attention to detail in all that we do. If we can do that I think everyone will be satisfied with the results,” Wilson said.