The Rochelle Hub varsity soccer team returns starters at all three levels this season, which kicked off with the first fall practice on Monday afternoon. Rochelle will host Genoa-Kingston on Monday, Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m. for its first match of the 2024 campaign.
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ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity soccer team returns starters at all three levels this season, which kicked off with the first fall practice on Monday afternoon. Rochelle will host Genoa-Kingston on Monday, Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m. for its first match of the 2024 campaign.
The Hubs are seeking to improve on a 5-13-2 overall record and a 2-8 record in the Interstate 8 Conference, where Rochelle finished sixth out of six schools. The Hubs are replacing two key starters from the 2023 season including Interstate 8 All-Conference forward Diego Salazar and defender Nathan Sergeant, who was an Interstate 8 Honorable Mention. Highlighting Rochelle’s returning forwards is senior Alberto Casillas, who led the Hubs in goals over the last two years.
“I think we have some good returning players,” head coach Brad Male said. “We started our conditioning over the summer and I think our conditioning should be good by the end of the season. We lost a few players from last year, but we’ll shuffle some returning players around and see what we have. Alberto is a player I’ll be looking for to take on a leadership role.”
Junior Kevin Orozco also returns to lead the Rochelle attack at the forward position. Most of the team’s strength will be in the midfield, where the Hubs welcome back multiple starters including senior Fernando Diaz as well as junior Heilly Zepeda and sophomore Alexis Nava. Defensively, Rochelle returns three starters including seniors Francisco Diaz and Bryan Garcia as well as sophomore Eliud Lombardia. Junior Antonio Hueramo served as Rochelle’s keeper last season.
“Our defense is an area where we need to keep working,” Male said. “We’re hoping that Bryan will fill a big role back there and Eliud came up and played back there last season. The midfield is where we’re strongest right now because we have a lot of returning players there.”
Rochelle will compete in two tournaments including the Colin Smith Invitational at Stillman Valley and the Belvidere Invitational next month. The Hubs, who will also participate in the Oregon JV Invitational, are eyeing their first conference and regional titles since 2018.
“Our goals are always the same,” Male said. “Our focus is on continuity and gelling together. We want to work as a team and if we can play 80 solid minutes we can compete with anyone.”
