JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — What more do you need besides Phoebe Alva Rosa?
This question, the first of the young 2022 season posed to Jackson Lady Broncs head coach Kristen Pizarro, almost jokingly but not really.
“About five or six more of her,” came a laughing but knowing response from Pizarro.
It’s not that the Jackson girls soccer team doesn’t have assets outside of the standout senior, but Alva Rosa is operating on a whole ‘nother level. Too good to play with the girls in hockey, Alva Rosa captained the JV boys team en route to a championship and individual selection to the all-state team.
On the pitch in 2021, Alva Rosa lived a little in the shadow of leading scorer Selah Hunter and last year’s emerging freshman Taya McClennan—both of whom scored 26 goals last year to Alva Rosa’s 10.
But this season, a lot will be riding on the senior to lead this talented group on a state title run. On the ice, on the turf, she’s the first player you can’t help but notice. She has every raw skill any athlete would kill for. And then the intangibles—heart, drive, competitive spirit—that coaches rarely find in any one player.
“She’s got it all. Competitiveness, work ethic, team leader,” Pizarro said. “And that shot is a rocket.”
Pizarro likes the group she’s got this season. Senior leadership abounds with Natalie Joralemon, Hannah Freeze, and Brooklyn Hills. In fact, Pizarro is moving all her big guns to the back end where she hopes to generate offense from the goal out.
“Goalkeeper Sidney Nash has really grown over the off-season. She has become stronger, more vocal, a real leader back there,” Pizarro said of the senior netminder. “And Brooklyn [Hills] really anchors our defense. She’s so steady and confident. Also, we are moving Natalie [Joralemon ] to marking back and Hannah [Freeze] to the backline. Our backline is really strong.”
The idea is to create a team that plays possession soccer and won’t crack under pressure. The trick will be to generate offense out of a very young group up front. It puts a lot on sophomores Taya McClennen, Piper Lee, and Eva Flanagan—all poised to have breakout seasons.
Freshmen as well, could be key. Pizarro is still trying to figure out what she has to work with.
“It always feels like we are thrown into the season and a little behind the eight-ball,” Pizarro said. “Literally, coaches and I went into this [past] weekend trying to figure out what we’ve got. Our first week is tryouts, assessing talent, making cuts. Then we have to work out some kinks and figure out tactical decisions.”
It’s still early to properly assess these Lady Broncs but they should be every bit as competitive as last year’s team that went 15-5 overall, 9-3 in conference. That squad, and this year’s, was as good as anyone. One thing’s for sure— the 4A West is going to be super tight.
Green River and Natrona look much improved in the early going, and defending champs Rock Springs haven’t lost much. Then there’s powerhouse Kelly Walsh that could take it all in the West.
The Jackson girls have started the season in promising fashion with wins over Lander Valley and Riverton. The Lady Broncs cruised to a 4-1 win over the Lady Tigers at home last Friday. Saturday in Riverton was a little closer than coach Pizarro would have liked it with a 2-1 victory.
“We lost our shape a little bit and failed to possess the way we want to against Riverton,” she said.
This weekend will be a real test. Two important conference games against Green River (1-1) Thursday on the road, and Rock Springs (1-1) at home Saturday.
“This team has the talent,” Pizarro said. “If we can pull it all together and find our rhythm, we have the potential to get to the final.”
