Not on her watch: Brasil steps up for girls soccer team
Manteca junior Haylie Brasil has recorded 13 shutouts and counting for the girls soccer team. (Moises Ramos Hurtado)
By MOISES RAMOS HURTADO
The Tower
Haylie Brasil has taken on a big role as goalie for the Manteca High girls soccer team, elevating her game this season.
Predecessor Marissa Soza played an instrumental player in the Buffaloes’ run to a Valley Oak League co-championship during the 2021-22 season, but she graduated.
Brasil, a junior in her second season on the varsity level, has seized the opportunity, winning a position battle during the preseason to earn the purple jersey.
“I would rather have me play goalie knowing it would be my fault if we get scored on than have someone who has never played goalie before getting scored on and think they let the team down. I’d rather take that on myself. ”
Manteca has reprised its role as a contender in the VOL and Sac-Joaquin Section. Offensively, the Buffaloes are led by Cameron Silva, one of the section’s leading scorers. Brasil has been a wall, defensively, with 61 saves and 13 shutouts.
“She knew we didn’t have a goalie,” coach Justin Coenenberg said. “She stepped up and came to me and said, ‘I’ll be the goalie.’ She’s come up big for us throughout the season. The success we’ve had, she’s a big part of that.”
The Tower sat down with Brasil to talk about her first year in net for the Buffaloes.
The Tower: What has been your biggest improvement this year?
Haylie Brasil: Some of my biggest improvements on the field so far this year are my drop kicks. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t exactly remember the form of how to drop kick to have power behind the ball, but now I am able to get the ball to halfway or further than half.
TT: What are some of your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a football player?
HB: I think some of my strengths are being able to read the field and direct players where to go. I get a good view back there. Being tall also helps me to reach those top-of-the-net (shots) they try to sink in. I’m also calm. I don’t usually get worked up. Some of my weaknesses are diving, overthinking and not talking loud enough for my players to hear me.
TT: What’s the biggest challenge the team has faced this year?
HB: The biggest challenge this year is learning how each other plays and trusting each other since we go a lot of new players.
Manteca High girls soccer coach Justin Coenenberg credits a lot of his team’s success to first-year goalie Haylie Brasil. (Moises Ramos Hurtado)
TT: What’s the hardest part about being a goalie at the high school level?
HB: The hardest part about being the high school goalie is you’re the last man before the net. There is no room for error. I’m just glad I don’t have to face the top scorer, Cami.
TT: How did you feel going into your first year as goalie on varsity?
HB: How I felt at the beginning going in first year as varsity goalie was nerve-racking. I hadn’t played goalie in about eight years. … No one was stepping up to the plate, so I decided it would be a cool experience to play goalie, and so far, it has been exciting.
TT: What are your short-term goals?
HB: Some short-term goals I want is to keep the score count on me below 15, become the Valley Oak league champions, and try to get as many shutouts as I can.
TT: Are you satisfied with where the team is at right now?
HB: As a team right now, we are in a funk. I know we can all do better. I do have to thank my defensive line; they make my job a lot easier back there.
TT: What made you decide to be goalie?
HB: I used to play goalie when I was little, so I have a little experience and have more of an idea of what I am doing. … I was a little rusty at first and I had to relearn how to do everything all over again, but it’s a work in progress. I would rather have me play goalie knowing it would be my fault if we get scored on than have someone who has never played goalie before getting scored on and think they let the team down. I’d rather take that on myself.