Ready to Rise in 2025: A Cochise Women's Soccer Season Preview

DOUGLAS, Ariz. --- The summer heat in Douglas isn't the only thing building intensity this August. On the field just east of the Douglas Campus, the 2025 Cochise College Women's Soccer team is shaping into a unit that blends hard-earned sophomore experience with fresh, game-changing freshmen and transfer talent. Head Coach Santos Rangel, entering his second season at the helm, can feel the difference already.

"This group has leadership, skill, and hunger," Rangel says with a grin during a midweek training session. "They want to prove something — not just to the conference, but to themselves."

Under New Sophomore Leadership

That hunger begins with the return of three players who defined last year's squad. Sophomore Stephanie Vazquez-Ceron isn't flashy according to her coach, but she's the heartbeat of the Apaches. A midfielder who keeps the ball moving and works tirelessly off it, she commands respect as team captain. "She leads by example," Rangel says. "The way she pushes her teammates — that's what you want in a captain."

Out wide, returner Angelita Carlos quietly emerged as one of Cochise's most dangerous wingers in 2024. Her work ethic, speed, and pressing instincts caused headaches for defenders all season. After notching a handful of goals and assists last season, Rangel predicts she'll double her numbers this year. "She's relentless," he says. "Defenders hate playing against her."

Then there's sophomore Jocelyn Navarro, the team's "Swiss army knife". Whether playing in the heart of midfield, shielding the defense, or pushing into the attack, she excelled wherever she was needed last season. "[Jocelyn] is just… dependable," Rangel explains. "She gives you goals, assists, and 100% effort, no matter the position."

Reloading with Transfer and Freshmen Starpower

But to compete in a brutally tough ACCAC, returning leaders need reinforcements — and Cochise found plenty.

In the midfield, Maria Ibarra, a sophomore transfer from Arizona Western College, has brought vision and creativity. She steps into a gap left by injured redshirt star Michelle Gomez and has already shown flashes of being a difference-maker. "She's exactly the kind of spark we needed," Rangel says.

Up top, another AWC transfer, Diana Taddei, arrives with serious credentials — 13 goals and an assist last season during Western's run to nationals. Rangel believes she could become one of the top forwards in the country. "She's lethal in front of goal," he says.

Joining her in the attack is incoming freshman Tiia Kuhmonen, from Siilinjarvi, Finland, a powerful forward whose combination of size and technical ability makes her a nightmare to defend. "She's quiet," Rangel says with a smile, "but when she gets the ball, she speaks loudly."                                                                                                                               

The Road Ahead..

Cochise will need every ounce of that firepower. Their early-season non-conference slate features Western Wyoming College to open the regular season on August 21st, and Snow College, ranked eighth in the preseason national poll. Those matches, Rangel says, will reveal exactly where the team stands.

In conference play, there's no room for complacency. The September 6th trip to Eastern Arizona College could set the tone for the ACCAC race, while the September 20th home showdown with Arizona Western promises playoff implications — and plenty of bragging rights.

Bringing in a Familiar Face

Helping prepare the squad for those moments is new assistant coach Ivana Siles, a familiar face to Apache Women's Soccer fans. A former Cochise standout from 2020–2022, she went on to play at the University of Nebraska-Kearney and represented Bolivia in the Women's Copa America in Ecuador this summer. Her passion, discipline, and experience — including being part of Cochise's last Region Final appearance — bring invaluable insight to the current roster. "She knows what it takes to get to that stage," Rangel says. "The players respect that."

As the 2025 season approaches, there's a quiet confidence around the program. This isn't just about competing — it's about climbing. With proven leaders, explosive newcomers, and a staff that knows what winning here looks like, the Apaches have their eyes set firmly on a return to the postseason.

"We've got the pieces," Rangel says, watching another crisp passing sequence in training. "Now, it's about putting it all together — and showing everyone what Cochise soccer is all about."