Here are capsules for the county’s soccer programs, which began their regular seasons last week:
Celebration
Boys: Under head coach Chad Boudreaux, the Storm has been one of the top programs in the area, going 58-15-13 in the last four years and appearing in 18 post-season playoff games. In terms of wins, Boudreaux says the team goals of winning an OBC and district Championships and making a deep run into the state playoff series remains but personnel player growth is more important individual accolades. “We have a lot of good players, but we always emphasize team rather than the individual. We work hard every year to teach our young athletes what it means to work hard, stay focused, and be a contributor to society. What happens on the field (ball bounces wrong, injuries) may be out of our control. However, you can control your effort, reactions, and behavior. If we focus on what we are supposed to, we will always be successful.” That teamfirst attitude is apparent, as through two games eight different players have scored goals, including three each by a pair of juniors, striker Mohammad Raky and midfielder Sebastian Ramis.
Girls: After going 14-4-3 in 2019-20, Head Coach Rebecca Holder hopes her team can rebound from last year’s 7-9-2 season. Three-sport standout Erin Ozyurek – a junior striker – netted 17 goals last season and returns to headline the Storm’s front line. Midfielders Lyan Cassamalhupa (6 goals last season) and Sophia Lazari (15 goals last season) will join Ozyurek as cocaptains.
Gateway
Boys: Gateway went 6-8 last year under the direction of coach Sagar Patel. Top returning players are senior Anthony Polanco and junior Sydney Ferguson.
Girls: Head Coach Jeremiah Swartz returns three of his top four goal scorers from last year’s 8-4-3 team, including Nicole Ramirez-Parra who put 20 goals in the back of the net. Strikers Isabella Distaffen (6 goals) and Kim Taveras (5 goals) also return for the Panthers.
Harmony
Boys: Fourth-year head coach Brett Ballard believes his veteran team has a chance to make noise in the state playoffs. “We look to achieve greater success than any of the previous years I have coached here. “Our goals are to win another Orange Belt Conference, a district title, and have the pieces to make a deep runin the state playoffs.” Top returning players include Elijah Delgado (Midfield, Sr.), Alex Oulette (Midfield, Sr.), Connor Cecil (Defenseman, Sr.), Alex Tuyo (Forward, Sr.) and Kevin Lavigne (Goalkeeper, Sr.). Harmony started its season trouncing Poinciana and drawing Timber Creek.
Girls: One of the top programs in the county, Harmony has gone 40-14-6 in the last three years under Scott Marlega, who is in his 14th year at Harmony, including five as girls’ coach. Marlega lost several talented players to graduation and will also be without senior Reinna Scott (torn ACL). Harmony has considerable returning talent, including Morgan Sullivan (Sr., D), Brynn Magner (Jr., MF) and Bekah Wiles (Jr., MF). “After graduating a small but valuable senior class, we still return a lot of experience to their lineup,” Marlega said. “Losing Reinna will hurt us on the field but our team chemistry will help fill that void. We expect to be competitive in the OBC and district races.”
Liberty
Girls: First year head coach Deanna Hobson sees a building project. “We have a lot of new players, so my hope is the experienced players give guidance and support through each game and practice. My focus for this team is to start with basics skills and build up the teamwork so they have confidence going into each game.” Her top returning players include Eileen Vazquez (Sr., Defenseman, Captain), Jennifer Baez (Jr., Defenseman, Asst. Capt.) and Emma Hillen (Jr., Forward).
Boys: Coming off a 2-11-1 season, the Chargers look to improve under head coach Mathew Arnold. The team opened the season with a win over St. Cloud Prep, 10-0. Top players include junior Eliam Maldonaldo and freshman striker Abraham Sosa, who netted three goals in the opener.
Osceola
Boys: Dean Oliff moves over from Gateway, taking over an Osceola program that lost 17 seniors off of last year’s 8-4-3 team. Oliff will look for Axel Andino and Nicholas Ruiz to link up as Osceola’s goal scoring threats; while Rey Morris and Christopher Chacon will be pulling the midfield strings. Benjamin Izaguirre and Geronimo Rosero will lead the defensive back line. The Kowboys were 0-2-1 through three matches, drawing with Apopka in their season opener, before dropping matches to Lake Minneola and Oak Ridge.
Girls: After the tragic offseason passing of head coach Daniel Joyner, Osceola’s program will be in a rebuild mode under the direction of coaches Kalin Martin and Fay Hinkson. The Lady Kowboys lost their opener to Discovery, 7-6.
Poinciana
Boys: Mathew Arnold’s team returns solid talent off of last year’s 12-8-1 team, including senior Marlon Escobar and junior Jahmani Chisholm.
Girls: Alyssa Gembach’s team looks to improve off of last year’s 5-8-2 mark, as it returns several veterans.
St. Cloud
Girls: St. Cloud struggled to an uncharacteristic sub-.500 season after making a deep playoff run two years ago. Coach Shawn Beck, entering his 9th season, has a solid group of veterans returning including goalie Lexi Santiago, midfielders Karen Prada and Rebecca Labrador, and defenseman Delia McDonald. The Lady Bulldogs lost a tough 2-0 decision in their opener to a deep Edgewater team.
Boys: Weylan Craig begins his 12th season at the helm of the Bulldogs. Looking to bounce back from last year’s subpar 7-9 season, he returns six starters. Jacob Snow will return in goal and hold down the defense with Yarrel Rodriguez and Jancarlos Amador. Jacob Pare, Robert Miralda, and Sebastian Alexander return as solid midfielders welcoming freshman Adrian Gonzalez. “While defense continues to be a priority, we will be looking to increase our goal scoring output with seniors Nathan McCalley and Christian Cabrera,” Weylan said. “We are seeking our second District Championship in three seasons, but we understand the challenge before us as our revised district includes our biggest challenge Ridge Community and our top rival, Harmony.”
Tohopekaliga
Girls: Kristine Ford begins her first season with the Lady Tigers after coaching four years at United Women’s Soccer, from where she sent 15 former players to the professional and college ranks. 9-6-3 last season, Toho returns experience including All-OBC midfielder Mackenzie Bayliss and goalkeeper Melina Swaisgood.
Boys: Head Coach Ashton Baptiste hopes to improve on last year’s record of 2-10-2. Although the Tigers were 12-37-7 in thie first three years, the team has been a competitive 7-6-3 in district play. The Tigers are off to 1-0-1 start with a win over Circle Christian and a draw with Timber Creek.
