Xolos Femenil Face Runners-Up of Apertura 2017 In Decisive Week 4 Matchup
Xolos women’s team may have their most important match of the Liga MX Femenil Clausura 2018 up to this point.
The border city team will face Pachuca away from home this Monday (5:00 P.M. PST) in a game that can define how the season will carry on.
In the Liga MX Femenil Apertura 2017, the most games any playoff team lost was just two, and the Xoloitzcuintles already have two losses. Coach Andrea Rodebaugh has said that the team does focus to build towards the future, so success in the present might not be a primary objective for Xolos Femenil. But if the Aztec Canines do aspire to compete in this very tough match, some of the more experienced players, like Cristina Juarez, should play in this encounter.
Some of the exciting young prospects that may play in this game include Midfielder Valentina Oviedo and forward Layzha Garcia. Both are just 15 years old and had solid performances against Toluca last week at the Estadio Caliente. Garcia specifically scored a goal and played beyond her years, really leading the team on the attack.
Club captain, Patricia Gutierrez, didn’t play in Xolos’ last game, still recovering from an injury, and it isn’t clear if she will play in this match. Andrea Rodebaugh’s team could really use Gutierrez’s leadership in the midfield, especially against a strong Pachuca side.
Las Tuzas were the runners-up of the Apertura 2017 season, led by team captain Monica Ocampo, who scored five goals. Ocampo is 31 years old and has plenty of experience, playing for the Mexico women’s national team throughout her long career. Head coach Eva Espejo is very young at just 32 years old, but is one of the better tacticians in the league.
Pachuca really is one of the pillars in the Liga MX Femenil, but is off to a struggling start. The team from Hidalgo is not in the best form with just three points from three games. Eva Espejo’s team got its first points of the season last week with a 2-0 win against Cruz Azul. Before that, Pachuca had lost 3-2 to Club America and 1-0 against Veracruz to start off the tournament.
There have already been some lopsided results in the Liga MX Femenil this weekend, like Monterrey defeating Necaxa 8-0 and Cruz Azul falling 7-1 to Club America. This could be another one, but Pachuca has not played like it did last year and Xolos do have some intriguing players on its roster. The Xolos’ ladies have yet to win and I think it will stay the same as Pachuca is a very tough team to beat, especially at home. My prediction for the match is a 3-0 loss for Xolos’ Femenil based on all the factors, but it could still prove to be an exciting game.
21 years old, born and raised in San Diego, roots from Tlaxcala, Mexico. Casual baseball, football and basketball fan but soccer is my true passion. Excited to bring you coverage of Club Tijuana for EVT!