The Hanford West girls soccer team kicked off the season Tuesday night. And the Huskies were able to kick it off the right way -- with a victory. Esmerelda Garcia scored on a free kick from about 30 yards out midway through the first half and host Hanford West was able to hold Roosevelt in check for a 1-0 nonleague victory in a season opener for both teams.

"I thought we played a good, full game," said Hanford West head coach Heather Walkingstick. "Usually we're a second half team but that early goal helped set the tempo."

After a tripping penalty in the game's 31st minute, Garcia lobbed a shot over the Roosevelt defenders. The ball landed about two yards shy of the goal on the right side and made its way into the net.

The Huskies (1-0) outshot Roosevelt 17-8 and missed out on some close chances.

In the game's first minute, Garcia hit a header that barely went over the cross bar that was crossed on a corner kick.

In the second half, Leslie Coronado missed wide right in the last 10 minutes in a heavily packed box.

But it was the defense that was the difference in the game.

The Huskies were able to limit Roosevelt's chances at an equalizer by pushing the team's quick forwards to the outside of the field to limit chances at the goal.

"We wanted to make sure they couldn't go up the center," Walkingstick said. "Our defense dug in and was able to keep us ahead."

The few shots on goal Roosevelt (0-1) did have, goalkeeper Tegan Coltra was able to corral. Coltra finished the game with six saves, including one in the second half where Roosevelt forward Karina Alanis had a step on her defender.

Last season, the Huskies and the Rough Riders played three times. The Huskies lost to Roosevelt 5-0 in the Roosevelt tournament. The next two times, Hanford West won 2-1 at the Peggy Renberg tournament and then 2-1 in a nonleague game in Fresno.

And Tuesday made it three in a row for the Huskies against the Rough Riders.

Last year, the Huskies went 11-15-2 and 2-9-1 in the East Yosemite League.

Hanford West will travel to Fresno on Friday and Saturday for the Roosevelt tournament at Sunnyside High.

(Dec. 3, 2008)