With only six returning players from last year, the boys varsity soccer team is different but aims to reach the Central Coastal Section (CCS) playoffs again, head coach James Williams said. This season will be difficult with so much turnover as the core players from the past three years leave and a new group comes in, Williams said.
Last year’s soccer season was his most successful one with MHS after breaking a 14-year playoff drought, getting to the semi-finals, and placing 3rd in the league, Williams said. With more time this, new group will reach the same heights as last year, he said.
“They’ve got to learn what it means to be on varsity and how to play, what it means to play with each other, (…) what it means to look at each other like family when you’re on the field, and it’s just a challenge to be overcome,” Williams said. “It’s part of having a team and playing high school sports because you’re going to have those rotations most every year.”
The team’s strategy for games changes day-to-day based on injury and circumstance; however, this year’s goal is always the playoffs, Williams said. He already likes what he sees in this group, despite some defensive issues and younger players still learning what it means to be on varsity, he said. The returning players are in leadership roles and helping, he added.
“We have six returning seniors that are stepping up to try to lead the way and show what it means to be a part of the team,” Williams said. “We look to create numerical advantages and places on the field that other teams are not used to seeing them.”
Senior and striker Jason Aguiar has played on varsity for three years and will always remember playing on last year’s team and being able to finally make it to the CCS playoffs, Aguiar said.
“It was really amazing to experience just being around a lot of players and playing more games with the seniors, especially, because there were 19 seniors last year,” Aguair said. “There’s been a really big change in part of our team, but as long as we can work on our defense more and work on the team that’s together, we will be better.”
Aguiar is one of the leaders on the team and tries to help the younger players know what it means to play for the team, he said.
“I’m here to make CCS and actually make it to the finals because that’s what we’re here for,” Aguiar said. “We have to go one game at a time. We’ll do one game at a time, and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Senior and midfielder Luqman Abas remembers being right on the edge of not making the playoffs last year, before making a five-game push to finish the season and make CCS.
“Since most of the remaining seniors made us see what it takes to get to CCS last year,” Abas said. “We need to help everyone else make sure that they know what they need to get there.”
Williams is trying to build a family out of the team that outlasts the soccer season, and build a group that will be back in the playoffs by February, Abas said.
“It’s got to be teamwork because soccer is an 11-man sport.” Abas said. “One player can’t make a difference but in order to get somewhere, everyone needs to step up – running those extra five yards, making that last tackle, working just past your own tiredness to make sure that the team wins and the team succeeds.”
The season is starting slowly with one loss and one tie (as of Dec 9 they are 1-1-1); they need to work on stronger defense and better chemistry to start winning, Abas.
“We have no chemistry,” Abas said. “That’s something we need to build, and we need to start winning games. The midfield is the core of the team, but the defense needs to be strong. If you can’t get scored on, you can’t lose, right? And then the attack will come as time goes on, as time progresses.”
On Sunday, Dec. 6 the team had their first win of the season against Woodside, and Williams complimented his players postgame.
“Today’s game was a real testament to just the boy’s ability to pick their head up,” Williams said. “The end of the first half was atrocious, and to come back when things looked like they were falling apart, to actually keep fighting. And then remember who they are, they just keep digging and then find a way to get the goals.”