All-Star soccer comes to Valley

The fact that soccer had never had an all-star game for the top high school players in the area has always irked Ben Orozco.

“Since I’ve been in high school, I’ve asked ‘Why doesn’t soccer have one?’” said Orozco, currently an assistant coach for Lindsay boys’ soccer. “Football has it, basketball has it and baseball... Why not soccer?”

Certainly, some have tried but failed as recently as last summer.

“The coaches brought it up last year,” Lindsay girls’ soccer coach Freddie Martinez said. “We were gonna work on (funding) over the summer, but when school started, (some of the coaches left). Ben said, ‘Let’s get this started’ and I said, ‘Fine, let’s put it together.’ So it’s been a long time coming.”

Granite Hills girls’ soccer coach Gabe Rodriguez saw the irony of the under-represented sport in the Valley.

“It’s the most popular sport in the world, yet it’s not quite here,” Rodriguez said. “Almost everyone you know has a kid who plays soccer and I think this is another step to taking it to another level and making it popular.”

That step is the arrival of the first annual Tulare-Kings Counties All-Star Soccer Game, set for this Saturday night at 5 p.m. for the girls and 7 p.m. for the boys.

As a result of Orozco’s toiling for corporate support and badgering coaches to submit their nominations, Martinez will help lead the East All-Star girls against Rodriguez and the West.

A full slate of local girls — 18 in all — will represent the Orange Belt among the 44 expected to play Saturday.

“These are girls who are excited about playing,” said Rodriguez, who submitted four of his Grizzlies to the West roster. “They were selected by their coaches not just based on their talent but on their overall attitude and their love for the game.”

Granite junior Marissa Martinez — along with Andrea Rodriguez, Stacey Campos and Zoe Kisling — will likely contribute her defensive prowess to the squad.

“I’m really excited,” Martinez said during practice on Lindsay’s posh field turf Tuesday. “I get to play with a bunch of the best girls from around the area. Hopefully I get to learn from them and maybe they can learn something from me.”

So far, the challenge for the coaches and players involved has been learning to become a team in five practices.

“It’s gonna be fun to see how everybody plays together,” Martinez said. “I think (the chemistry is) really building because we all know the game of soccer pretty well.”

Rodriguez said the challenge will be getting everyone equal playing time.

“We’re trying to get everyone to play a minimum of 25 minutes,” he said. “It’s for them. Of course, we’re also going to try and win the game.”

Rebekah Gonzales, Central Valley Christian’s top midfielder who led the Cavaliers through an undefeated league record last season, says she’s honored to help make history.

“It feels pretty cool,” said Gonzales, who has already committed to play for Trinity Christian College in Chicago. “I feel kind of important just being among the first to do it. It’s gonna be interesting.”

Though Gonzales is already taken, the inaugural All-Star Game acts as an interview of sorts with a number of potential college suitors. Rodriguez said scouts from a handful of JUCO and four-year schools will be in attendance, including Cal Poly, Bakersfield College and Fresno State.

“These girls are competitive. That’s why we’re training hard out here,” coach Rodriguez said. “It’s definitely a showcase for our area and the Valley.”

Of course, none of this would be possible without Orozco getting backers to pony up $5,000 for the event, a sum that covers uniforms, officials and Lindsay’s facilities.

“It’s a big investment,” said Orozco, who secured the sponsorships of Pepsi and Jack in the Box, among others. “Hopefully we can get people to come out, but so far everybody’s excited. (The coaches) said this is the best thing that’s happened for our kids.”

Strathmore’s vaunted squad will contribute three of its stars — Cecilia Ramirez, Mercedes Magallon and Veronica Magana — to the East along with Lindsay’s Angelica Vasquez, Raquel Godoy and Vanessa Gutierrez.

For the West, Porterville donates four: Heather Hicks, Maricruz Meza, Megan Harrison and Gabby Zendejas. Exeter will send four more: Sara Akers, Niki Zeibak, Brooke Smith and Ally Stout.

“We have a really good group of talented girls and they’re out here having fun and that’s what it’s all about,” coach Rodriguez said. “Half of these girls are already graduated seniors. We’ve got some juniors and sophomores and two freshmen on the team. It’s a good mix.

“I’m happy to be a part of this because I think this is very important for these young ladies.”

Orange Belters galore

The Tulare-Kings Counties Girls’ Soccer All-Star Game features a plethora of local talent

East Team

Porterville - Megan Harrison, Gabby Zendejas, Heather Hicks, Maricruz Meza 

Granite Hills - Zoe Kisling, Stacey Campos, Marissa Martinez, Andrea Rodriguez

Exeter - Niki Zeibak, Ally Stout, Sara Akers, Brooke Smith

West Team

Strathmore - Cecilia Ramirez, Mercedes Magallon, Veronica Magana

Lindsay - Vanessa Gutierrez, Raquel Godoy, Angelica Vasquez