Fort Lupton’s Juarez settles into new position

BY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

High school can be a time to try new things.

Even in girls soccer

Meet Arleene Juarez, a senior at Fort Lupton High School. She played mid elder last year for the Bluedevils’ girls soccer team. is season, she changed positions.

She’s the goalie.

“It’s di erent from all the other positions,” she said. “It’s a very technical position. It’s a di cult position to play. Not everyone can play it, but I’m very good at it.” rough four games, she averaged more than six saves per contest.

“It was a one-time thing,” she said. “I came in to practice and was like, `Let me try goalkeeper.’ It was the rst time, and Kyle ( rst-year coach Kyle Reddy) loved it.”

Juarez said the change in positions was “big.”

“It’s not the same as running. You have to stay there and focus more on how to attack the ball at the correct time and how to play the position correctly,” she said. “You’re kind of the last line of defense. Back there is where it starts.”

She’s also giving advice to her teammates.

“It’s a leadership position. I tell my defense what to do, how to do it and at what time,” she said. “ ey respect me a lot. ey see me as an authority gure. It’s friendly advice. O the eld, we have a group chat.”

FLHS split its rst four games. Both wins were on the road.

“I’m always one for improvement,” Reddy said. “Perfection is a progress. It’s never attainable unless you’re World Cup status. I’d give them a `B’ right now, but there’s always room for improvement.”

Rylee Balcazar led the team in scoring through four games with seven goals. Lidia Vasquez was averaging three assists per game through those four games.

“I believe in these girls. ere’s a lot of room for improvement,” Reddy said. “I knew what I was getting into. I’m always down for the challenge. I like seeing the progression in a player. I’m down for the challenge. Communication gets better and better and better every day. at’s all I can ask for.”

Juarez had no objection to playing college soccer next year.

“I’d love to be scouted,” she said. “I’m not sure where I’d wind up. I’ve been thinking about Aims (Aims Community College) or UNC (the University of Northern Colorado).”

Juarez said playing her new position is fun.

“De nitely,” she said. “I get a lot of action. I like sliding into the ball and making people fall. You have to be aggressive.”