Korena Perales has become the ideal blend of maturity and talent on the soccer field.
The Eaglecrest junior midfielder has certainly been impactful in her first two varsity seasons, but there’s something noticably different about her in the 2014 campaign.
Determined not to let this group of Raptors be satisfied with a first-round exit in the Class 5A state playoffs like last season, Perales has set a tremendous tone early on for coach Greg Watts’ team, which is off to a strong 6-1 start.
“I’m a captain this year and I think I’ve matured a lot between my freshman year and this year, so now I have the chance to be a leader and carry the team in a positive way,” Perales said.
“We’ve been trying to set high expectations, even in preseason. We have standards and expectations and we’re only going there and above.”
Perales has led her team in a big way. Through seven games, she’s racked up nine goals, which gives her the second-most in Aurora — behind the 10 scored by Hinkley freshman Teaggan Ilela — and the third-most in all of 5A. Columbine’s Tatum Barton leads the classification with 12.
After a three-goal binge against George Washington on March 25 — in which she scored three times in the first 14 minutes of the game — Perales is tied with Barton with 24 total points.
Watts doesn’t spare praise when talking about Perales, who has already almost matched her total of 10 goals from last season before Centennial League play begins. She scored 11 goals as a freshman in 2012 and currently has 30 goals and 13 assists in just 35 career games.
“I think Korena’s one of the best midfielders in the state and I don’t think she got her due last year in terms of recognition,” Watts said.
“She’s grown a lot between last season and this season and it makes it more scary. She can beat you in so many ways, she deals with pressure well and scores from different angles.
“She’s as good as any girl I’ve ever coached.”
College soccer programs have begun to take notice and Perales recently took a visit to Louisville University, which she had near the top of her list of choices.
That opportunity seems to have passed, so Perales is looking at the possibility of catching on with a program closer to home like Colorado State.
Perales is a driving force in a talented midfield that also includes seniors Jordyn Murch and Gabby Garcia as the strength of a team that is experienced in a lot of places, while infused with young talent up top in freshman striker Nadia Morris and in goal, where freshman Rylee Atteberry forms a strong duo with sophomore Kaitlyn Garza.
Watts believes this team is better than last year’s squad, despite the graduation of two of the Raptors’ three All-Centennial League performers from last season in striker Brittney Thornton and defender Jessica Westhoff.
The Raptors plan to be a major factor in the Centennial League, which has some other outstanding Aurora sides from Grandview, Smoky Hill and Cherokee Trail.
Smoky Hill graduated an All-Colorado player in Candace Cephers, but sophomore striker Sam Howshar and junior Megan Kneefel are back among a handful of experienced players that will support a roster that welcomes in eight talented freshmen and is guided by a new coach in Matt Guglielmo, who takes over for longtime fixture Andy Colella.
Tari Wood’s Grandview team has college-bound talent in seniors Maddi Rodriguez, Whitney Taggart and Brooke Tasker, who each earned All-Centennial League honors last season along with senior defender Katie Cunningham, who is coming off a fantastic season with the school’s basketball team.
A slew of freshmen also arrived at Cherokee Trail, where veteran coach Jeremy Schaller also had eight newcomers make the varsity roster.
Freshman striker Raye Burton — younger sister of graduated forward Emily Burton and current junior midfielder Taylor Burton — should make an impact on the Cougars, who also have back talented senior Aubrey Gessner. Taylor Burton made the All-Centennial League first team last season, while Gessner appeared on the second team.
Cherokee Trail has a veteran performer back in the goal in senior Marisa Kawalchuk, who has worked hard with what looks to be a very young defense that features three freshmen and a sophomore.
Hinkley is Aurora’s lone unbeaten team with a 5-0 record through March 31 and Ilela has provided a major boost, as she’s scored at least one goal in all five games.
Coach David Nickoloff’s Thunderbirds hope to challenge in the EMAC, as does perennial league power Rangeview, which welcomes back high-scoring seniors Megan Campbell and Vanessa Madera, both All-EMAC first team performers who combined for 44 goals and 23 assists.
Madera — who accounted for 18 goals and 10 assists — was named EMAC Player of the Year last season.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2014 AURORA GIRLS SOCCER SEASON
Returning all-league 1st & 2nd team players: Ingrid Alvarez, jr., F/M, Overland (2013 All-Centennial League 2nd team); Natalie Baltizar, jr., M/F, Regis Jesuit (2013 All-Continental League 2nd team); Ashley Broeker, sr., F/M/D, Rangeview (2013 All-EMAC 2nd team); Sami Brooks, soph., D, Smoky Hill (2013 All-Centennial League 1st team); Taylor Burton, jr., M, Cherokee Trail (2013 All-Centennial League 1st team); Megan Campbell, F, sr., Rangeview (2013 All-EMAC 1st team); Katie Cunningham, sr., D, Grandview (2013 All-Centennial League 2nd team); Maria Martin Del Campo, sr., F, Aurora Central (2013 All-EMAC 2nd team); Gabby Garcia, sr., M, Eaglecrest (2013 All-Centennial League 2nd team); Madison Garst, sr., M, Rangeview (2013 All-EMAC 1st team); Aubrey Gessner, sr., M, Cherokee Trail (2013 All-Centennial League 2nd team); Sam Howshar, soph., F, Smoky Hill (2013 All-Centennial League 1st team); Kelsi Lidge, sr., F, Regis Jesuit (2013 All-Continental League 2nd team); Jaqueline Helguera Lopez, sr., D, Gateway (2013 All-EMAC 2nd team); Salma Luevano, sr., F, Rangeview (2013 All-EMAC 2nd team); Vanessa Madera, sr., M, Rangeview (2013 All-EMAC 1st team, EMAC Player of the Year); Korena Perales, jr., M/F, Eaglecrest (2013 All-Centennial League 1st team); Maddi Rodriguez, sr., M, Grandview (2013 All-Centennial League 2nd team); Whitney Taggart, sr., F, Grandview (2013 All-Centennial League 1st team); Carly Taphorn, jr., D, Rangeview (2013 All-EMAC 1st team); Brooke Tasker, sr., M, Grandview (2013 All-Centennial League 2nd team); Jolee Thaling, sr., D, Rangeview (2013 All-EMAC 2nd team); Brynell Yount, jr., F, Smoky Hill (2013 All-Centennial League 2nd team)
Other Aurora players to watch: Rylee Atteberry, fr., G, Eaglecrest; Cheyenne Brown, jr., D, Eaglecrest; Raye Burton, fr., F, Cherokee Trail; Marisa Duran, sr., F, Gateway; Hannah Edwards, fr., D, Cherokee Trail; Karli Eheart, fr., F, Regis Jesuit; Estefany Plazola Esparz, sr., M, Aurora Central; Raquel Isaac, soph., F/D, Hinkley; Jazmin Figueroa Mendoza, jr., F/M, Gateway; Kaitlyn Garza, soph., GK, Eaglecrest; Jessica Hixson, fr., M, Rangeview; Teaggan Ilela, fr., F, Hinkley; Marisa Kawalchuk, sr., GK, Cherokee Trail; Megan Kneefel, jr., GK, Smoky Hill; Maddie Lesjak, sr., GK, Grandview; Nadia Morris, fr., F, Eaglecrest; Jordyn Murch, sr., M, Eaglecrest; Diana Perez, sr., D, Aurora Central; Ashley Rager, soph., M/D, Hinkley; Diana Rivera, sr., D, Hinkley; Brooke Sosa, fr., F, Smoky Hill; Tara Vigil, jr., D, Eaglecrest; Jarron Yeardley, sr., F, Vista PEAK
