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North Mesquite girls hoping talented newcomers can grow up in a hurry
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
For some teams, early-season tournaments are simply about getting back out on the field and working out some kinks in preparation for start of district play.
North Mesquite falls on the opposite end of that spectrum.
The Stallion girls have a number of new faces this season and that includes the coaching staff, where Steve Harvey takes over as head coach after serving as an assistant for the North Mesquite boys team.
"We're trying to forge a team out of one of the youngest lineups in our district," said Harvey, whose team had two wins and two ties at the Richland Winter Blast Tournament last week. "We're very young. I'll probably be starting three freshmen and three sophomores and maintaining focus is always the most difficult aspect of a young lineup."
North Mesquite is not completely devoid of experience. In fact, they have a talented, albeit small, veteran nucleus to build around.
Lexy Santos is a four-year starter who might be the only senior in the starting lineup for the Stallions. Santos, who has committed to Incarnate Word in San Antonio, was a first-team all-district midfielder last season and will be leaned on for her leadership as much as her production.
Santos will be joined in the midfield by junior Alondra Garza, another of the team's leaders. Garza, who is being looked at by several colleges, including Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Texas State, is a three-year starter who Harvey said possesses great ball skill and passing instincts.
Two more juniors will anchor the defense in Mache Mason, a seasoned club player, and Heather Lacey, a returning starter who usually marks the opponent's top scorer.
That quartet will more than likely be surrounded by underclassmen who will immediately take on big roles.
Freshman Jennette Guia will step in at goalkeeper and Harvey believes she has a chance to make the all-district team this year.
Xochitl Bedoy, another freshman who has club level experience, is an instinctual player who will take over either as the sweeper or as an interior defender.
The X-factor for the Stallions could be Kory Dixon, who Harvey called the best offensive freshman he has coached in his 15 years.
Dixon, who can play midfielder and forward, should be among the fastest players in the area, which they are hoping translates into being among the district's scoring leaders, as well. In the first tournament last week, she offered a peek into the future, scoring twice in four games.
The Stallions have flown under the radar in local circles recently but they have established an impressive pedigree. North Mesquite has made the playoffs in 11 consecutive seasons, highlighted by a state runner-up finish in 2005.
While this year's team might not be on that level just yet, they still expect to carry on the winning tradition.
"We want to improve on last year's progress," Harvey said. "This team is very young, but talented. I believe that we should be able to compete for a playoff spot and that is our first goal."
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