Montgomery County Class 5A/4A boys soccer preview
Here’s a team-by-team look at the Class 5A and 4A boys’ football teams in Montgomery County.
Magnolia, Magnolia West, Montgomery and Lake Creek will play in District 21-5A. Porter will play in District 16-5A. Splendora will play in 18-4A.
Information has been requested from all head coaches.
Reloading Lake Creek after reporting season
Lake Creek graduated 11 seniors from last year’s 14-6-3 bi-district playoff runner-up.
But the Lions aren’t exactly rebuilding this season. They’re set for more after a historic campaign in which they made the playoffs for the first time.
“I think we’re a deeper team this year,” Lake Creek coach George Hourahan said. “I think we’re a bit more athletic than we were last year and I think we’re a bit better with the ball than a year ago. Hopefully all of that will bring us the results. that we are looking for in our new neighborhood.
Lake Creek graduated from captain Hunter Robert, the all-time leading scorer in the program’s history, and four-year-old man of letters Nick Colosimo.
But Hourahan is confident he has more than enough with senior forward Justin Mayes, who had 10 goals and 10 assists last season and was second on the team with 30 points, and senior goaltender Kaden Harmann. , who made 82 saves and allowed 27 goals in 20 games last season.
Sophomore forward Efrain Solis (five goals, two assists) and junior defenseman Dakota Kennett (district defensive player of the year last year) are also high on the plans.
“The strength of this year is their camaraderie together,” Hourahan said. “This group of boys, from one to twenty, get along so well. They care about each other; they support each other. Because of that, they work well on the pitch and create chances and defend together.
Hourahan expects more from his offense after the Lions posted their best defensive effort in school history last year (31 goals against, eight shutouts), led by Harmann.
“Our defense and our goalkeeper led to a lot of wins, but some were unnecessarily tight,” Hourahan said. “If we could finish more chances than we create, it would take a lot of pressure off the team late in the game.”
Hourahan said the goal is to get to the state. Beating Jordan in the regular season last year, then watching the Warriors beat them 1-0 in the first round of the playoffs en route to an appearance in the state, makes the Lions feel like anything is possible.
“These boys are working every day to win the district and make a run in the playoffs,” Hourahan said. “This is the group that has been preparing for this moment for years. It’s their turn to make history. Last year was huge for the playoffs. Now that we’ve crossed that obstacle, they are ready for more.
Small steps for Magnolia West
It may be a cliché, but it’s true for Magnolia West. This season it’s about one game at a time.
Step by step, day by day.
The Mustangs released leading scorer Jafet Ramirez, versatile winger/forward Edgar Garcia and talented defenseman Wyatt Eggleston from last year’s 8-5-8 playoff runner-up.
Coach Jonathan Kauffmann is reluctant to highlight the strengths of the team at the start of the season. What he is confident in is that he has a group of players who get along well, even if he has to play with confidence.
Magnolia West’s MO this year is fundamental.
“To come in and work hard every day and take it one game at a time,” Kauffmann said. “By doing this, everything else will take care of itself.”
Chemistry, a godsend for Splendora
Splendora has plenty back from last year’s 19-8-2 bi-district playoff runner-up.
The Wildcats fired four key players but return senior forward Fabian Arteaga (27 goals, three assists), junior forward/midfielder Nester Cortes (10 goals, two assists), junior fullback Angel Caballero, senior fullback Oscar Pineda and second-year midfielder Rogelio Ruiz-Soria (two goals, assist).
A key return is senior midfielder Fernando Manzo, who scored two goals and an assist last year.
Coach Tim Gillespie said the team had good chemistry. If the Wildcats can translate that bond to the field, the sky’s the limit.
Gillespie said the Wildcats have good leadership and are coachable. The playoffs and a high ranking in district play are the goals.
Powerful attack to set the pace for Porter
Porter will have plenty of offensive weapons this year. The hope is that the defense meets that standard.
Sophomore Victor Avila (20 goals, four assists) and junior Rey Marquez (15 goals, 10 assists) will lead the Spartans, who went 19-2-2 last season and won a district championship before falling to College Station in the playoff bi-district.
“We have several players who can score,” coach Paul Kunkel said. “We need to step up our defensive effort.”
Kunkel said the goal is to get back to the playoffs and make a run.
Montgomery hopes to bounce back
Montgomery went 2-17-3 last season and finished seventh in district play.
In stages, new head coach Thomas Stout, who has head coaching experience with the boys and girls program at Willis High School and was most recently an assistant with the women’s team at Montgomery.
It was a tough ending for the Bears, who won at least four games in one season in 2018.
Magnolia plans to return to playoffs
The Bulldogs won five district games last year. Seventh place ended a three-season playoff streak.
Last year, Gustavo Seglio stood out for the Bulldogs as he was named District Newcomer of the Year and tallied seven goals and two assists.