SMHS GIRLS SOCCER
San Marcos entered the 2025 season following a two-win season and a new head coach in Chase Esmiol. After the end of senior night, not only had the Lady Rattlers improved their win count by a significant margin but also clinched a berth to the postseason.
San Marcos defeated the Converse Judson Rockets 4-0 behind four goals from senior Annalise Martinez, improving their overall record to 11-7-1 and their district record to 6-4.
“Really everything because we’ve worked so hard building up to this,” Senior Alexandria Juarez said. “We’ve had a lot of rough times, because the seniors are the way we are and we’re all best friends, we’ve kind of come through for each other.”
On a night celebrating the seniors, Esmiol is proud of the group and what they have been able to accomplish this season.
“It means a lot,” Emisol said. “These girls have stepped up to the expectations and are leaving a legacy. That’s something I’ve talked to them about this whole year is leaving a legacy. This season is a good season.
We’ve come back from only winning two [games] last year to where we stand now as part of that legacy. What’s more impressive about these girls is how they hold themselves under pressure and in the classroom. We have five seniors that are in the top ten in their class.
“We have a beautiful legacy that these girls are leaving so it means the world to me that these girls were able to do that on senior night.”
The Lady Rattlers started the game on fire, attacking the Judson defense from the jump.
In the 37th minute of the first half, Martinez scored the first goal of the night, giving the Lady Rattlers the early 1-0 lead.
San Marcos’ offensive attack continued to punish the Judson defense while the Lady Rattler defense did not let the Rocket offense get a shot off.
Martinez added her second goal of the night, making a run against the Rocket defense before delivering a powerful strike to put San Marcos up 2-0.
Martinez completed the hat-trick in the late stages of the first half, scoring her third goal of the game to give San Marcos a 3-0 lead going into halftime.
“It’s just having the right mindset and being able to know who’s around me,” Martinez said. “Knowing that I can trust [my teammates], play off them and that they’ll get me the ball when I need it. Just stay composed in front of you.”
Despite leading by a large margin, the focus for the Lady Rattlers was to play as they were down 3-0 to Judson which is a tactic the team used in their win against East Central.
“Something that we actually work on in practice with these girls is I’ll have them play the lower classmen and go up 7-0 on them and then be like, all right, now you’re down 7-0,” Esmiol said. “Now act like the goal is reversed. So that’s the message I told them and that’s the message against East Central is play we’re down 3-0. They did a great job like we were down the East Central and they came back to score five more.
“Today, they didn’t score, but what they did do is they played like they were down 3-0 and never let up and we’re relentless”.
Martinez added her fourth goal of the game while Judson was unable to find the back of the net in the Lady Rattlers 4-0 win.
Celebrating ten seniors for their work and dedication to the soccer program, Esmiol is grateful to coach the players in his first season as head coach.
“This is my first year at the high school and getting to work with these girls for just one year, I feel shorthanded because it’s been so much fun,” Esmiol said. “It feels like I’ve worked with these girls for years just because of how welcoming, kind and hardworking they are.
It’s been so much fun to come in.
“That’s a legacy they’ve left for me is one of building the future for me as a coach. They definitely left a legacy for that, but when it comes to the legacy they’re leaving as athletes, they’re doing a phenomenal job on setting the tone for the future.”
San Marcos will be on the road Friday night against the district leading Cibolo Steele Knights.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
The Lady Rattlers look to take the field before the senior night game against Converse Judson. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
The Lady Rattlers celebrate Annalise Martinez’s goal in the win over the Rockets. San Marcos is back in the playoffs after winning just two games last season. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
San Marcos 4 Judson 0
JUDSON SAN MARCOS 0 0 3 1 — 0 — 4
OVERALL RECORD San Marcos (11-7-1)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Goals- Annalise Martinez 4
