The Lady Emperors defeated the Tulare Union Tribe on February 7, 2025. Senior night honored seniors Ximena Villegas, Miranda Grande, April Mariscal, Yaritza Rios, Mia Garcia, Natalia Camacho, Sasha Ramirez, Star Hernandez Manzo, and Jahaira Huerta Ramirez. Junior Arianna Villegas scored the winning goal in a 1-0 match.
The girls finished their season in third place in the West Yosemite League, with a record of 4 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. As the seniors bid farewell to their final high school soccer season, emotions filled the arena. The team fondly recounted their favorite memories as Star said, “My favorite memory was playing against my old school and old teammates, where I ended up scoring 3 goals and doing the CR7 celebration for my brother, who had requested it. This was memorable because my family was there to support me, and I got to showcase my talents after sitting out for my first games.”
Miranda shared, “My favorite memory would have to be last year’s senior night. We were playing Mission Oak when, out of nowhere, it started hailing. After the game, the field was covered in puddles, and I remember most of the team sliding right into them. The next morning, everyone was sick, but honestly, it was one of my favorite memories.” April, who plays as a midfielder and winger, said her favorite memory was being back-to-back champions at the Exeter tournament.
Sasha highlighted her favorite memories from the season as stopping for food, regardless of whether they won or lost, because the girls would huddle together and share laughable experiences. She noted that moments like those made her appreciate her supportive team. Ximena Villegas simply encapsulated her favorite memory as her penalty at the Lemoore Tournament.
Yaritza remarked that her favorite memory was getting tripped and dramatically rolling on the ground, securing a tournament-winning free kick. Keeper Natalia sweetly noted that above all, she cherished making new connections with her teammates. Finally, Jahira shared that her fondest memory was blocking a penalty kick at the Exeter tournament.
As the seniors bid farewell to the Dinuba High School Varsity Soccer Program, they paved the way for the incoming generation of athletes and set the stage for the upcoming season. Dinuba wishes the girls all the best as they move on to the next chapters of their lives.
