Midfielders Daisy Bonilla and Vanessa Villacorta make the UC Merced women’s soccer team go
No one was more surprised by the instant bond between Daisy Bonilla and Vanessa Villacorta than the UC Merced center midfielders themselves.
Center mid pairings often need years working together to truly be able to complement each others’ strengths and compensate for their partner’s weaknesses. Many never get there.
Bonilla and Villacorta have defied those odds in less than two years and are a big reason why the Bobcats (9-1, 5-1 California Pacific Conference) head into this afternoon’s road matchup against Embry-Riddle (4-8, 2-3 Cal Pac) battling for the first conference title in school history.
“It was a pretty natural thing,” Villacorta said. “We clicked right away and that’s not usually the case. There’s usually a little bit of chaos in the middle while you get to know each other.
“We have very similar playing styles, so it made things much easier. It lets us anticipate what the other one is going to do and where we should be when they do it.”
The pair came to UC Merced in 2013 and made an instant impact, finishing second and third on the team in scoring.
Bonilla is the more attack-minded of the two. The sophomore pushes the ball whenever she gets a chance. Villacorta is more methodical, holding possession and presenting passing options to her teammates.
The beauty of their partnership, however, is that they can instantly switch roles should the situation dictate it.
Bonilla is third on the team with eight points (three goals, two assists) and Villacorta has four (two goals). Neither is on pace for the offensive output they had a season ago, but that’s more a reflection of UCM’s deeper roster than of their play. The attack still filters through one or both of them almost every time up the pitch.
“Our style of play is possession,” Bobcats coach Megan Atoigue said. “We’re looking to string together lots of one- and two-touch passes. It’s perfect for Vanessa and Daisy.
“I can’t teach what they do. They’re both good at distribution and have excellent vision.”
The results are tough to deny.
Merced has already set school records for wins and conference wins in a season. Atoigue’s squad has outscored opponents 36-4 and sits a half game up on Marymount California University for first place in the Cal Pac with five games to play.
“Everyone is definitely having a lot more fun this season,” Bonilla said. “Everyone from last year has the confidence of playing for a season, and coach brought in a great freshman class that came in ready to play.
“I think the biggest difference for Vanessa and I this year is our communication is much better. Last year we had to say everything to each other. Now I can just give her a look and she knows what I want.
“I think we’re where we expected to be this season. Hopefully we can finish as well as we’ve started.”
This story was originally published October 17, 2014 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Midfielders Daisy Bonilla and Vanessa Villacorta make the UC Merced women’s soccer team go."