Our main goal is to promote a strong team bond and help our less experienced players gain confidence in themselves. I always look to our seniors for leadership.”

Brad Male

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team returned to the field earlier this week for the start of the 2024 season. Rochelle returns multiple varsity starters from last season and the Lady Hubs are seeking to improve on their 7-10 overall record from the 2023 campaign.

Rochelle will kick off the 2024 season with a nonconference road match against Harlem on Thursday, March 14. The Lady Hubs will begin the Interstate 8 Conference slate with a road match against Sycamore on Wednesday, March 27. Rochelle went 3-3 in the Interstate 8 last season under head coach Brad Male, who cited team chemistry as a strength of his roster.

“I think last year team chemistry started to play a bigger part towards the end of the season, as more of the team got comfortable in playing new positions and different roles on attacking and defending,” Male said. “Our main goal is to promote a strong team bond and help our less experienced players gain confidence in themselves. I always look to our seniors for leadership.”

Among the notable returning players for the Lady Hubs is junior midfielder/forward and two-time Interstate 8 honoree Makayla Lara, who has compiled 46 goals and 10 assists over the last two seasons and was an Interstate 8 First Team honoree last season. Junior defender Betty Flores also returns after earning Interstate 8 First Team recognition for the Lady Hubs last season.

Moreover, Rochelle welcomes back senior goalkeeper and four-year starter Danica Ward as well as senior forward Kara Martinez, who was an Interstate 8 Honorable Mention in 2023. Junior midfielder Emma Kennay is another Lady Hub who will have a prominent role this spring.

“We have a lot of new faces this year, as about half of our team consists of freshmen,” Male said. “Our main focus is working on our conditioning and building a strong team bond. I think with Kara and Danica returning, they both could fill leadership roles. Makayla, Emma and Betty have also helped the team in the offseason and I look to them to help continue helping out.”

Rochelle lost six seniors from the 2023 roster including two-time Interstate 8 Honorable Mention and starting center back Kailey Harris. The Lady Hubs will also look to fill holes in the midfield and on defense after losing starting midfielder Mavi Avila and starting defender Abby Tarvestad.