WINNERS: American Youth Soccer Organization’s under 10 soccer team, the Killer Bees, is one of four California teams to play in the State Finals. The State Finals are on March 27 in Bakersfield.
The Killer Bees soccer team has done something no other American Youth Soccer Organization soccer team from Hemet has done — it is going to the State Finals in Bakersfield.
“I don’t know if it’s really hit me yet,” Killer Bees coach Ramon Benz said.
The Bees — which is made up of 8- and 9-year old girls — solidified their spot among the four top teams in California when they swarmed the competition at the Southern California Section I Championship on Sunday.
The girls will represent Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties in the state finals.
Benz said the Bees’ 25-0 record has not been easy to get.
“These wins have not come easy. We’ve had to face some tough teams,” Benz said.
He said the girls proved how badly they wanted the section championship when they braved hard rain and won despite the weather.
“We played in the rain, and our girls prevailed,” Benz said.
He said their final game was tied 3-3 in double overtime. The game went to a shootout. After three kicks each, the teams were still tied, 6-6.
“I made a keeper change to make a psychological move, and we stopped those kicks. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, we have a chance to do something that no one has ever done (in Hemet).’” Benz said.
Benz said he doesn’t make excuses for his girls simply because they are young.
“I don’t treat them like they are 8 or 9 and incompetent,” he said. “If you tell them they can only do something small, that’s what they will accomplish. But if you give them big hopes and dreams, that’s what they are going to accomplish. I push them.”
Benz said one of the most extraordinary things about his team is that the players are at different skill levels. He said AYSO puts teams together to make sure no team is stacked with the most highly skilled players.
At the end of each season, coaches rate their players. The following season, the players are distributed so that there are players of every skill level on each team.
“Other regions that we play don’t do this. Some of them group all of the highly skilled players on one team,” Benz said.
He said each girl adds to the success of the Bees.
For example, he has two daughters, Glory and Cherish, who play on the team. He said that, although they are sisters, they couldn’t be more different. Glory is the leader, he said.
“She’s the toughness of our team,” Benz said.
Cherish is a shy player.
“She’s the sweet one out on the field (who encourages others),” Benz said.
Meanwhile, Jocelyn Guiterrez is dangerous, said Benz.
“Everytime she has the ball, we all hold our breath because she’s probably going to score,” he said.
Benz said Morgan Bond is the work horse. She makes plays happen, and, Benz said, although she doesn’t always get the limelight, she works her hardest.
He said his players work hard and they have heart — and that is what makes them successful.
He also said parents have played a key role in the success.
“It’s a good combination that includes the support of the parents. They support the way I coach. They allow me to push the girls,” Benz said.
He said he encourages parents to be positive with the girls.
“I tell the parents to let me be the bad guy,” Benz said.
Benz said the most important aspect of his coaching is to make the girls believe in themselves.
“What this win means is that we have talent and anything is possible. If you believe in yourself and you play as a team, you can do anything. When you play as a team, you’re dangerous. A team is hard to beat,” Benz said.
The Killer Bees is made up of Haylie Bustamante, Cherish, Alexia Hadad, Kylee Evans, Morgan, Jocelyn, Madelynn Smudde, Diana Alva, and Glory.
The team will play in the state finals on March 27.
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