Jaylin Seto was frustrated. Throughout her soccer career, there was not much she physically couldn’t seem to do out on a field.

But nearly 10 months ago, Seto torn the ACL in her left knee. In the aftermath, there was pretty of introspection. Will she ever run as fast as she once did? Would her reconstructed knee be as sound as it once was? Would she get over the feeling that the next step could lead to another injury?

A week ago, playing in 102-degree weather in San Antonio, Seto received an encouraging sign. She scored the game-winning goal as San Antonio Athenians SC toppled San Antonio Runners 3-1 in a United Women’s Soccer contest.

“Certain things I used to do, I still haven’t been able to do,” said Seto, a senior midfielder at Our Lady of the Lake. “It’s just me getting over that mental battle. This is just a step forward for me.”

Seto isn’t the only one ascending. The Athenians (3-1) are on a hot streak, winning their past three matches after a season-opening loss.

The club faces Dallas-based Luxoria FC (3-0) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Soccer Central (6610 Low Bid Lane) in a crucial matchup in the UWS Southwest Division that carries postseason implications. Both teams have nine points, but Luxoria has three games remaining while the Athenians have two left, including a home-and-home series the next two weekends vs. Luxoria.

Luxoria, led by midfielder Kennedy Kessler, has outscored its three opponents 9-0.

“I think we’re pretty comfortable where we are right now,” said Athenians defender Madison Herrera, a senior at Our Lady of the Lake and O’Connor graduate. “I think we’re building good stamina together as a team and I think we’re going to kind of keep that going, hopefully.”

The Athenians had little choice but to find their groove. With a new coach and plenty of new faces on the roster, they lost their opener 1-0 to ATX Blues on June 2, leaving them little room for error in a bid for a third straight berth into the UWS playoffs. The Athenians have advanced to the national semifinals in each of the past two seasons, falling to the eventual champion on each occasion.

“I think it’s just part of growing up,” said Athenians defender Jordan Bushnell, a Clemens alum and sophomore at Houston Christian University. “You can’t really go in and expect win after win. You’re going to have to learn to play together. I think as the more we
practice together and the more games we get in, we’re going to be pretty solid.”

A week later in Cibolo, the Athenians launched their winning streak.

Chiara Singarella scored on a 20-yard free kick, bending a left-footed shot around a
three-person wall and inside the left post midway through the second half, helping her team capitalize on one of its numerous scoring chances for a 1-0 decision vs. SA Runners. Goalkeeper Tess Pitcher earned a shutout, with plenty of help from Eve Clarkson, Payton Adams and Bushnell.

“It’s a little frustrating to have another one and another one, until we have it,” said Singarella, who recently was called up to the Argentina national team training camp in preparation for this month’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. “I think we continued playing our game.”

The approach has paid dividends. The following week, on the road vs. ATX Blues, the Athenians avenged their lone setback. Olivia Wright, Jessiny Aguillon and Meredith Caviglia each scored first-half goals en route to a 3-0 victory. The match was stopped early in the second half because of lightning and never resumed. Mia Wildeman and Pitcher shared the shutout. Aguillon is one of three Taft High School players on the team, joining goalkeeper Madissyn Harris and midfielder Alejandra Davis.

“We’re all talented players, and I feel each game, each practice, we get a little closer each time,” said forward Sierra Wannamaker, a Madison graduate and senior at University of Incarnate Word.

The Athenians moved into a tie for first place with a 3-1 triumph vs. the SA Runners on June 24. Keeley Ayala scored two goals and Seto tallied one as the club scored three goals for the second straight contest. Wannamaker and Katina Tsapos each had an assist apiece.

“I was lucky that my teammates were able to set me up for some really good goals,” said Ayala, who played at Incarnate Word and is one of six returning players. “It just comes with playing together. The goals get easier the more you play together. We’re getting better at that.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1