Senior goalkeeper grows into role as starter for Warriors
Originally published March 23, 2011 at 9:51 p.m., updated March 23, 2011 at 10:45 p.m.
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SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Class 4A bi-district round:Victoria West vs. Tuloso-Midway
6-p.m. at Memorial Stadium
Zabdiel Vallejo knows that, sometimes, the game rides on his shoulders.
And the senior goalkeeper for Victoria West is up to the challenge.
"I had a lot of responsibility passed down to me," he said. "This year, as the goalkeeper, it's pretty much a defensive position and if you mess up, it could be devastating for the team.
"I have to be a whole lot more responsible with myself, trying to keep myself and others in check."
This is his second season on varsity. He didn't play much last year, spending much of it behind then-goalkeeper Ethan Garza.
But he spent his time watching, learning, listening, absorbing.
"I got a lot of experience last year, especially with the lettermen last year who had been playing since they were young," he said. "Not that we haven't. We're getting fitter, stronger and faster."
The Warriors (8-5-3) open the playoffs at home against Tuloso-Midway on Thursday night, a team they played and beat earlier in the season.
Victoria West beat the Warriors in mid-January on the road, 4-3. They jumped out to an early four-goal lead before the Warriors struck back in the second.
West coach Bill Tally said Tuloso-Midway usually plays with three midfielders, as opposed to West's two, and will move up its defenders into the offensive zone.
This could mean they will need a strong night from their goalkeeper, potentially from the senior Vallejo.
"It's a whole new experience," Vallejo said. "Last year, I didn't start. This year, I'm starting, and it comes with a lot of pressure."
Tally said the team has a lot of exuberance on the field, much of it borne from the fact that the team was relatively young entering the season.
That turned out to be a double-edged sword, he said.
"Our strength is also our weakness," Tally said. "We're young and inexperienced, and we'll make some mistakes. At the same time, being young, they have a lot of energy, they pressure the ball and get after it.
"They don't hesitate, they keep fighting and playing hard, and it's really helped us."
Vallejo is part of a senior group that has helped lead an otherwise young Warriors team through the season.
"They've brought focus, they make sure everyone is serious and focused at practice," Tally said of the seniors. "They understand, they've been on varsity before."
Victoria West struggled down the stretch, winning just one of its last four games and going just 1-2-1 overall, including a losses to Victoria East and Gregory-Portland, and a tie with Corpus Christi Moody.
Vallejo said the Warriors are looking to pick up where Memorial left off, and that includes continuing the Vipers winning ways.
Tally said the current team is learning how to win, and how to follow in that tradition. In 10 seasons, Memorial made the playoffs nine times.
"We want to continue that," he said. "But more than that, we want to play good soccer. We want to do our best every game and make sure we don't slack off.
"If we play up to our potential, we'll go far."
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