Prepping  for district – El Defensor Chieftain

The Lady Warriors were warming up during a Thursday practice in preparation for a multigame road trip.
Greg Byrd | El Defensor Chieftain photos

With an 11-3 record, coming off a tough loss against Los Alamos 6-2, the Lady Warriors are poised to make a run during the final six games of the regular season. It is district play now for the Lady Warriors. It is also a road trip for the girls this month without a home game until October 23.

“What we do in practice is all about preparing these players mentally,” head coach Michael Olguin said. “At this point in the season we just want to make sure everything is available for the athletes to succeed.”

Senior Lola Apodaca moving around the pratice “dummies” in place as the team
scrimmaged.

Coach Olguin shows up early for midseason practice with his fellow staff Amanda Saez and Dezirae Armijo helping to prep the Socorro Soccer Complex while things like the boy’s team and youth flag football are taking place at the same time.

The Lady Warriors do not start off on the easy route with conditioning drills taking place. Yellow poles are set up to run through. Team captains are leading the girls through the process. One such team leader is senior Bryanda Leon. She was sprinting with the best of the players.

“Practice is very different now because it’s more intense,” she said. “Chemistry and trust is the number one thing going into a run at state. I know we can get there skill wise, but we have to play as a team.”

Coach Olguin continues to focus on the competition in front of the team.

“There are three different seasons. You have the regular season. You have district season. Then you have the tournament. Right now the mind set is trying to get them to peak at the right time. Every opponent should be worried about facing us. Our team can do everything.”

Hatch and ATTC are up next, both on the road. The Lady Warriors hope to bring home multiple wins as they host Monte Del Soul during its two game regular season ender.