Fairfield Lady Bandits soccer team takes home the title of League Champions following a long and hard-fought season in the Waco HOT Association.

The Bandits are a girls’ soccer team that has been in existence since 2010.

Each player was born in 2005, 2006, or 2007; and they have been participating in the Waco HOT Association for the past three seasons with sporadic success.

This season however, the team came together; and after an opening day 2-1 loss versus the Mustangs, playing with two girls short, the Bandits went on to win the rest of their games of the season.

The Bandits scored a league-leading 35 goals for the season, and only allowed 5 to be scored against them.

Leading goal scorer for the team, and arguably the league, was Emily Leatherman, with a whopping 17 goals. She even scored a “Hat Trick” (3 goals) in four separate games.

Guarding the Bandits’ goal was goalie Raeanna Rossiaky, who allowed only 5 goals total, shooting down the opposition.

Defense standouts were Claire Guillotte and Brianna McDonald, who were supported by Rookie of the Year, Harley Sanders; Kayden Dallas, and Maya Polk.

Midfield chores were fulfilled by a player who was immune to exhaustion, Lillian McBean; and the youngest player of all, Lydia Morgan; and the most experienced, Samantha Chaidez.

The midfield was supported by Aiden Sleziak and Kate Winters. They spelled the offense girls and provided more power and speed that the team never looked weak even when the subs came in.

Forward duties were filled with plenty of goals. Many of them conquered with courage, hard running, and heart; all provided by previously mentioned Emily Leatherman.

Coach Alfonso Chaidez had a problem at the end of each game; it was to name the game MVP, so except for a couple of games, he named game MVP to the whole team. He thinks it’s the same for the season MVP: the Whole Team!

Congratulations to the Assistant Coaches, who were always there, Steven Rossiaky and Chad Morgan.

Thanks to the true Bandits heroes, the players’ parents and family members for supporting their player. That makes it a truly enjoying past time.