Ceres High School’s girls soccer program experienced success during Hannah Menk’s first two seasons as head coach.
Expect more of the same from the Bulldogs this winter.
“We have experience,” Menk said. “It’s nice because they know my coaching style and how to play together. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Having newcomers is a bonus. They bring more fun to the team. They radiate positivity.”
Ceres High welcomes back 11 players from a year ago, including Camille Clemmer (Sr.), Kristina Corbin (Sr.), Natalie Corbin (Sr.), Abigayil Prado (Sr.), Jasmine Ravelo (Sr.), Erica Vieira (Sr.), Lilly Blevins (Jr.), Ayleen Bustos Yepez (Jr.), Arianna Diaz (Jr.), Kaylee Rodriguez (Jr.) and Stephanie Gatica-Lizola (So.).
Giulia Puonzo (Sr.), Bianca Camorlinga (Jr.), Melanie Lopez (Jr.), Ava Montesdeoca (Jr.), Alyssa Santilles (Jr.), Itzel Torres (So.) and Jessie Blevins (Fr.) are newcomers.
Natalie Cabrales, Monica Castillon, Andrea Hernandez, Yaresli Lopez, Paris Moreno, Alyssa Quinones and Emily Sandoval were lost to graduation.
“The girls are having more fun,” Menk said. “The team bonding is much tighter. That could help lead to more cohesion on the playing field.”
“There’s a time to be serious and a time to relax,” she added. “I don’t want people goofing off during games. I want them to fight until the last whistle is blown.”
Clemmer, Diaz and Kristina Corbin were all selected to the Western Athletic Conference First Team last season.
Prado earned second-team all-league accolades.
Moreno and Hernandez were both honorable-mention picks.
Diaz led the Bulldogs in scoring as a sophomore.
Prado and Lilly Blevins were named team captains for this year.
“It’s a good combo,” Menk said. “She (Prado) takes the game very seriously. She (Blevins) is very positive.”
The 2022-23 Bulldogs will be vying for the WAC crown and second straight trip to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
The top three teams in league advance to the postseason. Ceres High will face Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Lathrop, Mountain House, Los Banos and Pacheco during conference play.
“A successful season would be making playoffs again,” Menk said. “A cherry on top would be placing first in league.”
The Bulldogs amassed an 11-7-1 overall record and placed second in the WAC standings (8-4-1) this past winter. Tenth-seeded Ceres High lost 3-0 to seventh-seeded Patterson while making an appearance in the playoffs for the first time under Menk’s guidance.
The Bulldogs collected seven wins, one loss and one tie on their way to a runner-up finish in the 2020-21 WAC South standings. The CIF canceled postseason tournaments for coronavirus-safety reasons.
“As a new coach coming in, you have a different mindset,” Menk said. “I was a college goalie. I talk a lot on the side of the field. It’s fun to bring in what you were taught and learned. The keys are to start conditioning early and make sure practices are on-point.”
