MidValleySports.Com

Lady Vikings getting a pregame pep talk.

By George Hernandez

(El Monte) – The Mountain View girls soccer team is headed to the Semi-Finals Saturday on the road.

Lady Vikings coaches Alex Rosales, a 2019 CIF champion coach at South El Monte and Miguel Soza, back-to-back CIF champion coach at Mountain View, are no strangers to big time soccer games. 

Senior Maya Ramirez Alcala, a four-year starter, and freshmen Jacqueline Tapia Granados are feeling the pressure for the first time. 

Alcala when asked about if it’s win or go home said “Knowing that every game you enter is a win or go home scenario just in itself motivates and heightens the energy on the field. It shows in practice, our girls know that this team is special, not taking advantage of this team’s skill is important and vital.”

When asked about being a freshman on such a big stage and keeping her mental toughness Granados replied “I just try not to overthink it. When it gets intense, I focus on the next play and ignore everything else. We trust each other, so that makes it easier to stay calm.”

Coach Rosales said both girls are students first as both have over a 3.8 GPA. They have shown leadership throughout the year even when the girls weren’t playing at their best and the team was frustrated. 

Coach Soza also wanted to highlight Kim Sandoval, a senior who is coming back from an ACL tear. She has been critical to the success of this team and an inspiration to all the girls.

The Lady Vikings travel to Sherman Oaks to face Buckley this Saturday at 1:00 PM and look to advance to their first CIF title game in school history.