Xolos Femenil Liga MX Femenil Clausura 2018 Season Review
Credit: Xolos
The Clausura 2018 was not the best season for Xolos Femenil, finishing the tournament with just two wins from 14 games.
The Club Tijuana ladies did end the semester on a high note with a masterful 4-0 win versus Veracruz at the Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente. The only other win of the season was a 1-0 win away from home against Monarcas Morelia.
Andrea Rodebaugh’s team finished the season with no wins at the Estadio Caliente, which was one of the more disappointing aspects of the tournament. Xolos Femenil finished the season in 12th place with 10 points on the general league table and seventh in Group 1.
There were, however, some young and exciting players that broke onto the scene and others that have improved since last year. Coach Rodebaugh has said that this team is building towards a prosperous future and there is hope with the current core of players. Rodebaugh does seem to have her job secured despite the results because she has built trust with these players and this team.
The Clausura 2018 was not ideal, but the future is certainly bright if the franchise sticks to its plan going forward.
Goal Of The Season: Inglis Hernandez
The goal of the season for Xolos Femenil came in their last game of the season off the foot of midfielder Inglis Hernandez. A ball was crossed into Veracruz’s penalty area and a defender headed the ball right into Hernandez’s path.
The 27-year-old from Mazatlan in Sinaloa, Mexico did an amazing bicycle kick to beat Las Tiburonas’ keeper and that had to be the best goal by any Xolos’ player this season at any level.
¿Cristiano? ¿Avilés? ¡No! @InglisHernandez ¡Golazo! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #ViviendoElSueño pic.twitter.com/Csjv65222M
— Xolos Femenil 🐕 (@XolosFemenil) April 10, 2018
Most Improved Player: Itzel Gonzalez
Xolos Femenil allowed 19 goals last season and 21 this season, but the defense and the goalkeeper Itzel Gonzalez seemed to be solid throughout the semester. The UCSD graduate pulled off some remarkable saves throughout the season and was even a catalyst in certain games.
Her most memorable moment of the Clausura 2018 came in Week 8 against Monarcas Morelia when Xolos Femenil achieved their first win of the tournament. Gonzalez saved a penalty in stoppage time that helped Andrea Rodebaugh’s team secure a 1-0 win against Morelia. The Tijuana native has gained confidence this season and has improved and progressed vastly since last year.
Rookie Of The Year: Valentina Oviedo
El futbol, su mejor herencia. Conoce la historia de @vale88oviedo en #DesdeElLocker #ViviendoElSueño pic.twitter.com/EtvHIpfgw7
— Xolos Femenil 🐕 (@XolosFemenil) April 10, 2018
It is hard to imagine that a 15-year-old player can make an impact and shine in a top professional league. Well, Valentina Oviedo did that in this Clausura 2018 season as she displayed the confidence of a seasoned veteran in the midfield. The teenager was used as a box-to-box midfielder and did not stop throughout each match, really putting in a respectable effort in all eight games she played in. That confidence she showed in each game really runs in her blood as her dad is a former soccer player, Frankie Oviedo. The former Colombia international played from 1993-2008 and has served as a coach in the Xolos’ organization since 2012.
Player Of The Year: Rosa Aguiar
The Club Tijuana ladies only scored 11 goals this season and Rosa Aguiar finished as the top scorer this with three goals. Aguiar Moran scored her third goal of the season against Veracruz at the Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente in Week 14, her second in Week 12 against Pachuca and her first came in Week 7 against Veracruz at the Estadio Caliente. The Mexican midfielder also scored three goals last season and looks to be a player that is in future plans with the border city team.
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!