Lady Yoe, Yoemen soccer setting standards for the future

On Thursday, the community of Cameron is going to get to see a first when both the Lady Yoe and Yoemen soccer teams host Liberty Hill in the bi-district round of the class 4A playoffs.

The Lady Yoe matchup with the Panthers at 5:30, with the Yoemen up next at 7:30.  

Regardless of the outcome against the number one seeds from 26-4A, no one can take away what both of these teams have accomplished this season, making the playoffs for the first time in program history.  

As her team wrapped up a practice heading up to the big match, Lady Yoe soccer coach Laura Dickson reflected on how far the program has come since its infant years.  

“The first year I took over we have 12 girls in the program and 11 play on the field,” said Dickson.  “There are games we played down a player or two. Soccer is not a big thing around here so it’s been neat to see the program grow.  In my second year, we had 16 girls, and since then it has progressively grew. This past year, I was able to keep a JV the entire time just like this year.”

Yoe head coach Kamol Nohe had a similar message and reiterated how important it was to continuously see the program grow and progress.  

“There is always going to be a breaking the barrier or creating the legacy and that is what I told the kids,” said Nohe.  “The juniors, sophomores and freshman can build on that and learn something from it. Hopefully we can draw more enthusiasm from the community and other kids kids coming up and that they will want to play soccer.  We have to establish a winning culture and expect to be in the playoffs.”

There are two players that have played an integral role in getting their teams to the playoffs.  Both coaches noted that these players were not going to be the ones giving big pregame speeches, but rather show their leadership through their actions on and off the field.  Those seniors are Faith Kistler and Diego Martinez.

“Faith is not always a super-vocal leader, but she always leads by example,” said Dickson.  “She is one of the hardest workers we have in the girls’ athletic program, in general. I think the other players respect when she has something to say because of the all the hard work that she puts into everything that she does.”

“Diego is not one of those speaker-type players, but he shows by example,” added Nohe.  “He pursues the ball and never gives up. He is constantly pushing the envelope and is never taking it easy and that is why I keep him in the game.  He sets an example for the other players. He is going to force the other team to make decisions and challenge them.”

Both Kistler and Martinez gave their reactions to the success from 2018.

How does it feel to be the first soccer team from Cameron to get into the playoffs?

Kistler: This is the first time any Lady Yoe sport has been into the playoffs in a long time and we have worked hard to get there.  Being the first soccer team ever, we are setting the path for success for everyone else.

Martinez: It feels good being apart of a team to set this new culture around here being the first team to make the playoffs in our school history.  It is special for the players and the program. It brings something competitive to Yoe athletics and we hope to make this an annual thing.  

How has it been playing with this group of girls/boys this season?

Kistler: This is probably my favorite group of girls with soccer this year.  We have a lot of young girls, and a lot that are going to return for next year.   Hopefully I will be able to come back and watch a couple of matches. It took a little time in the beginning, but once everyone got used to their position, then we were all good.  

Martinez: This was the first time the players on the team played together during the summer.  I had never been part of a team did that and everyone is just so much closer than it has been.  We all get along and want to play for each other. We all want to win.

Do you believe this can set the standard for future teams?

Kistler: Next year, we will have a good shot at making the playoffs as well.  We have a lot of young girls on varsity and the JV looks pretty good, so I’m excited to see what happens in the future.  

Martinez: In football, after a state championship no one is really satisfied.  The next guys want to make a name for themselves and we want to do that here.  Hopefully the incoming freshmen class and the returning starters better our record and get into the playoffs.  

When did you first start playing soccer?

Kistler: I got into soccer because I didn’t want to be in offseason because it was too hard.  When I tried it, I was not sure and I was not very good at it. I just stuck with it and I love it.  It is one of my favorite things to do now.

Martinez: I played a bit in my old city of San Antonio.  When I came here I took a little break but since my freshman year I have been playing every year.  I love playing soccer and it gives me something to keep my competitiveness satisfied after all the winter sports.  I have been trying to work to help the team in any way that I can.

What are your plans after graduating?

Kistler: I am planning on attending Texas A&M and study biomedical sciences and hopefully go to dental school to be an orthodontist.  

Martinez: I plan to attend UTSA.  I will graduate from Temple College this May with my associates as I have been working on that.  I hope to finish my bachelor’s program in two years.