May 22—MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Mavericks Liliana Savala, Samantha Escamilla, Maite Betes and Beth Ribellia signed their letters of intent to play college soccer Tuesday evening on Lions Field. Liliana and Samantha Escamilla will be signing with Green River Community College, while Maite and Beth will sign with Columbia Basin College.
“I went to go see the campus and I loved the campus,” said Savala on Green River CC. “I absolutely love the environment; it felt basically like a second home to my actual home.”
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Liliana had not initially planned on going to college to play soccer, but Green River had reached out to her and after talking to the coach, she realized that this would be a great next step in her soccer career, she said.
Liliana is planning on attending Green River to earn her undergraduate degree and focus on becoming a mechanical engineer when she moves on to a university after community college.
Samantha Escamilla said the coaching staff was a major reason for choosing Green River CC as well. She said that the college’s women’s soccer coach, Kelvin Mizen, seemed confident in what he was trying to build with the team.
“I’m all for building a family and just building goals and achieving them, so that was something that had my eye from the beginning,” said Samantha Escamilla.
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Samantha Escamilla is going to be pursuing a general education at Green River with a goal to possibly move into a business education.
For both Maite and Beth, being close to home was a big reason for choosing to attend Columbia Basin College. They said the soccer program and coaching staff had also impressed and inspired them to commit to the school.
“I wasn’t really ready to go too far from home yet, and they had a good soccer program,” said Beth.
Maite said she is going to be pursuing a general education at Columbia Basin College, but has an interest in hospitality that she might consider more as time passes.
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“I like to travel, so maybe something with that,” she said.
Beth will also be focusing on just getting her AA in general studies. She is considering a degree in psychology but is still undecided on what she really wants to do.
“I’m going to be exploring some other things,” Beth said. “I’m not really sure what I want to do yet.”
The girls played soccer for both the Mavericks and the Basin Sounders club soccer team throughout their soccer careers. Basin Sounders coach Lisha Ribellia said she has spent a lot of time with the players over the years, and they have proved themselves time and time again.
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“They come out, they work hard, and they do the things they need to do to succeed,” said Lisha. “They do it with a pleasant attitude and they’re looking to compete and achieve things so it’s been good working with them.”
Lisha said they have their futures laid out ahead of them as they make their way through junior college and decide whether they want to further their soccer careers into an even higher level.
“I think that’s something that they get to kind of explore for a couple of years in school,” she said. “I know a couple of them are planning on going into helping out with more sports things, which is going to be great.”
Liliana said her time with the Basin Sounders is what resulted in her being scouted by colleges early in the season. Playing for the club was very important in both her development as a player and as a person in general.
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“I started playing with Lisha when I was a freshman,” she said. “I wasn’t fully confident in myself, and she helped push me to be the best version of who I could be and how I could play.
Maite said she had played soccer her whole life, but her time playing as a Mav has been her favorite so far.
“These four girls, they’re really special ones,” said Mavs girls soccer coach Alysha Overland. “I know the whole program is sad to see them go, but very excited to see them to their next endeavor.”
The work ethic of these four girls has been some of the best that the Mavs have had, said Overland. They have consistently shown in both practice and games a great attitude and strong effort that couples with their energy and skill.
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“I definitely think the community colleges that they’re going to are lucky to have them,” she said. “I think they’re going to excel, stand out big time for them and I think that if they choose to, they could play beyond that as well.”
Liliana’s mother, Samantha Savala, described her daughter as an amazing individual and is excited that Liliana is going out in the world and continuing to play soccer.
“That’s what she loves,” said Samantha Savala. “That’s the only thing that we want for her is to do what she loves, and this is something that she’s passionate about and wants to do.”
Brenda Farias, Samantha Escamilla’s mother, said that her daughter is a very dedicated and cheerful person and is very excited for the opportunity for her to continue her journey with soccer and move on to college.
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“I think she’s just trying to grow up and she’s trying to figure out her way,” said Brenda.
Maite has become quite the leader both on and off the field for high school and club soccer, said her mother, Katrina Betes. Katrina coached her daughter since she was younger and always instilled in her the idea that Maite could do anything and to give everything 110%.
“I think whatever she does is a perfect example for that,” said Katrina. “That’s what she’s done through club and high school as well.”
Beth’s parents, Saul and Jennifer, said she is a very kind and driven person who follows her goals and is always a team player. They are excited for her to move on to college and the opportunity she has to do something bigger.
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“The school that they’re heading to is a really good visit, so a great place to land from a parent standpoint,” said her father, Saul. “She’s going to a good place.”
The girls are all excited to see what the future holds, both in academics and for what they can continue to do as soccer players.
“I definitely see myself overcoming the levels of college soccer,” said Samantha Escamilla. “I love competing, so I want to see how far I can compete.”
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