Woodbridge girls soccer team making a run at league title under first year coach

Woodbridge soccer coach Jackie Farber (middle) with captains (from left) Jayla Land, Hannah Cooper, Olivia Edwards and Rachel Shon. (Photo courtesy Woodbridge soccer, For OC Sports Zone)

Woodbridge High’s girls soccer team has had a great season under first year coach Jackie Farber and is making a run at the Pacific Coast League title.

The Warriors are 14-3-1 with three games remaining in PCL play.

Farber was born and raised in Grosse Point, Mich and played basketball and soccer her entire life. She has been coaching for more than 15 years, starting at the club level and then in college.

“I attended University of Arizona and coached men’s high school soccer for four years (JV/varsity level) at one of the top soccer programs in Southern Arizona,” she said. “I’ve coached kids ranging from as young as 3-years-old all the way up to 18-years-old at beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Locally, I have been working with the Newport-Mesa Strikers FC as well as Irvine Youth Soccer League.” 

Irvine began league play with a 2-0 victory over Irvine. Hannah Cooper scored the first goal assisted by Jayla Land. Sophia Venegas scored the second goal off a corner kick from Land.

Senior goalkeeper Allie Hoertig had a shutout.

“We had a breakout pre-season putting up several wins on the board (9-2) and winning the Best in the West tourney in our bracket,” the coach said. “We’re heavy in upperclassmen leadership and experience with a team of 11 seniors and an additional eight returning varsity players and a few more players making their varsity debut this year.

“We have a very deep bench. Our focus has been, most importantly, coming together as a group, trusting each other and building one another up, on and off the field. We set the intention before every game and practice to give 100 percent from start to finish and bringing the highest level of intensity and excitement to every game.

“We have new uniforms, new gear, new program/player policies for a fresh new start feeling and this whole season we have been chasing this feeling and riding the excitement wave which has lead to incredible, positive energy amongst players and parents.”

Among the players contributing are Land, the senior center mid/center forward; Cooper, senior captain, forward; Olivia Edwards, senior captain, defense/center back; Ava Leyerle, junior, center holding midfielder; and Sophia Venegas, sophomore, defense/outside back.

Land has committed to Washington State, Edwards to Iowa State and Cooper to California Berkeley.