Having lost most of the rock solid defense that anchored last year’s league championship soccer team, Coach Rene Ortiz knew that to be successful this year somebody was going to have to step up quickly for Hilltop High. That somebody turned out to be sweeper, Elizabeth Hines.

“We lost pretty much all of our defense (to graduation) so our defense was my biggest concern coming into this season,” said Ortiz who coaches Mexico’s National Indoor Team when he is not coaching soccer for Hilltop High. “I was pleasantly surprised to see the great job that Elizabeth was doing for us in the back. Now we are more solid there than we have been in quite a while and Elizabeth has been a big part of that. She played outside midfield for us last year, but she has adapted very well to her new role. I have been very pleased with her.”

While Hines is new to the sweeper position, playing soccer is nothing new to her. When she was in elementary school she began playing soccer at about the same time she began dancing Ballet Folkorico. Along the way she has also played volleyball, basketball and track. While Folklorico is now just a distant memory, soccer is still very much a part of her life.

“I think you can release a lot of emotions by kicking a ball and I just enjoy being out there on the field and being part of a team. Being the sweeper on this team, I am often the last line of defense (other than the goalie) so I have to make sure that no goals go in. I think we have surrendered less than a goal per game so our defense has done pretty well.” Hines also fills the role as the team’s captain.

“Sometimes I goof around with the other players, but when it is time to get serious I get everything in order. I try to be mostly friendly, but sometimes tough.”

Having fallen in the second round of the CIF Playoffs a year ago, Hines and her teammates are focused on advancing deeper into the playoff pool. Earlier this season her Lancers won the Barons Tournament and reached the semifinals of the Vaqueros Tournament. A couple of CIF victories would make this the most successful team in school history.

“I think we have a pretty talented team. We just need to focus and we can go further in CIF than we did last year,” Hines said.

She hopes to continue her soccer career in college.

“I plan to go to either Cuyamaca or Grossmont Community College for two years and then transfer. I am undecided at the moment, but I think I’d like to study criminal justice. I am hoping to play soccer though wherever I end up.”