CAPPS CARRIES THE LOAD FOR THE BOSQUE BOBCATS
The Bosque girls soccer program reached the final each of the last two seasons, but came up short both times. “We were bummed because we really wanted to win, but we are definitely going to use that to motivate us,” said senior Ainsley Capps. “We really want to win and would love it to be state champs.”
They are going to have to make that run without standout junior Rose Candelaria who suffered a season ending knee injury. Missing a player who scored 29 goals last season is a tough loss. “Massive,” said head coach Johnny Moya. “If you have Jordan who can’t do something, you have Pippen to pick it up. This year we only have one, so it’s going to be difficult.”
That one is senior Ainsley Capps. “Athletic, technical, die-hard,” is how her coach describes her. “She doesn’t give up, she’s always going 100%. She’s a senior, but she wasn’t a captain before this year. This year she’s fully embraced being a captain. She feels the pressure, but she’s ready to take it on.”
“I love to score,” Ainsley described herself. “I’m very ambitious, I would say aggressive, but I also love to have my teammates do well. The girls that get in that don’t usually play, when I can get them a goal, or create something for them, I love it.”
Capps committed to play soccer at the University of New Mexico. “I love UNM, the people, the coaches, the culture, everything about it is so enticing,” Ainsley said. “I feel like I can’t get enough of it when I’m there.”
Now without Rose Candelaria, the pressure is on Ainsley to perform. “It’s immense,” said Moya. “You’ve got the whole team on your back and I always tell her, ‘You’ve got to put the cape on and lead the team, put them on your shoulders and go.’ She’s a senior and plays on a top level club team and she’s the leader of this school, so she is ready for it. She’s ready to do it.”
“I feel the pressure a little bit because Rose is a great player are we are definitely missing her, but I’m hoping we can find ways around it,” said Ainsley.
Regardless of who is or isn’t in the lineup, the goal remains the same: a return trip to the state final. “It’s hard after you make the finals two years in a row to not want to get back there,” said Moya. “The state tournament is always our minimum acceptable standard. Once we get there, anything can happen.”
It would mean the world to me, even getting to the state final again, even if we don’t win,” said Ainsley. “But we are gonna, I think we’re going to win,” she added.
