Head coach Oliver Germond takes away plenty of positives from his side’s opening day defeat at the hands of Cosumnes River.

The women’s Rams soccer team lost 2-1 in a game which Germond says they commanded but nevertheless came away losers.

“We felt we were dominating and just couldn’t score,” said Germond. “They had a penalty kick and a free kick and those were the only two shots they had all game and they won.”

The Rams’ goal was scored by freshman Stephanie Agavo. Germond feels Agavo has “a lot of potential to be a goal scorer.”

After losing both last season’s leading goal scorers and seven other starters who have all received scholarships to four year universities, Germond is rebuilding his team. “That’s what’s challenging about coaching at this level,” he said. “You only have the players for two years.”

Germond hopes his sophomores can raise their game to fill the void left by those who have moved on. “Our returning players are now the leaders of our team, they need to step up and make plays,” he said.

Germond believes players like Jasmine Woodruff can make the plays needed to win games.

“She’s a key player,” said Germond. “I feel like she could create a lot of opportunities for us in the attacking third.”

Woodruff has a message for the freshman players: “You have to work your way up to get a spot. I didn’t start in the beginning. I had to work my way up to get a start,” she said.

Woodruff said she learned a lot during her time as a freshman soccer player.

“I got better as a player. The sophomores were good role models. They taught me a lot.”  

She intends to give the freshman the same help she received during her first year. “This year I have to be a leader and show the freshman how we need to play and work hard in every game,” said Woodruff.

Germond is also pleased to have Marrisa Pacheco returning after she missed the entire 2011 season. “She’s very creative with the ball. She missed out last year because she broke her ankle right before the season began,” he said.

Despite the loss, Pacheco is happy to get her first game out of the way. Prior to the game she was “a little nervous” but came out of the game with “more confidence.” Pacheco is now hoping to make up for missing out on last season and is confident the team will go far this time around.

“I know we can make it to the final four, we can get to the state championship. I have a lot of faith in this team. We have a lot of good individual skill. We just have to learn to put it together as a team,” said Pacheco.

Goalkeeper Jasmine Cordova believes this season will prove to be a “successful” one. Cordova believed the first game was an opportunity to see the team’s dynamic in action. “Now we are starting to figure out how everyone plays,” she said.

Cordova believes that this year’s team can outshine the team of 2011.

“I think we have potential, we just have to put our minds to it. We need to step up and fill some big shoes. I definitely think we can be more successful than last year,” she said.