Talented Bishop Gorman girls soccer team fueled by 2015 disappointment
Even though it started six freshmen and relied on underclassmen for nearly all of its production last season, Bishop Gorman’s girls soccer team felt it was good enough to win the state title.
That goal didn’t come to fruition, as the Gaels lost to Arbor View 3-2 in the closing minutes of the Division I Sunset Region semifinals. But that disappointment could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
“When you have heartbreak and you bring everybody back, they all want to rally and work even harder,” said Gorman coach Doug Borgel, who returns 14 players, including eight starters, from a team that had a 15-3 record. “It’s just sort of been a long offseason for us to get back at it. But I think the message has been clear since. It’s to build off of the youth and the season we had last year and take it a step further.”
The Gaels open their season against Elko in the Howell Memorial Tournament in Reno at 10 a.m. Friday.
“Our goals here are lofty,” Borgel said. “We want to win a state title — 15-3 is great, but when you don’t win the state title, everybody is disappointed. …
“We feel that we’re talented enough to win it this year. And if we don’t, we have only ourselves to blame.”
That goal won’t be easy playing in the Class 4A Sunset Region. Arbor View, No. 21 in the country in USA Today’s Super 25 preseason rankings, has won the last four state titles, and Centennial and Palo Verde also are perennial powers in Southern Nevada.
Gorman, though, could have the best scoring trio of the bunch in seniors Hannah Borgel, Tavin Hayes and Arlie Jones.
“Between Tavin, Arlie and Hannah, that’s a three-headed monster that is going to be difficult for teams to handle,” Doug Borgel said. “That’s what we were missing last year, one more scoring threat. I think we’re the only team with the three players at that kind of level. The other teams have two or one. We’ve got three and a supporting cast around them.”
Hayes, who has committed to Iowa State, sat out last season to play club soccer, and captains Hannah Borgel and Jones each made the All-Southern Nevada team. Jones also was first-team all-state.
“I feel like we have a lot of experienced players this year,” said Jones, who is committed to Southern California. “And a lot of our younger players come from good clubs, so I think that we do have a really good chance.”
Jones and Borgel each finished with 45 points last season. Borgel led the team in goals with 18, and Jones had a team-high 11 assists.
The Gaels also return sophomore Kevyn Hillegas, who was the Southwest League Defensive Player of the Year.
“I think we’re the most competitive (team),” Hannah Borgel said. “We may not be the most skillful or technical, but we have the most competitive players, and players who have the desire to win and work hard. …
“Don’t underestimate us because this is my fourth year and I’m not leaving this school without a ring.”
Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson
