The Maricopa High School boys’ soccer team struggled throughout much of the year, but a new division and young talent have them hopeful for the future.
They jumped out to a 1-1 record. However, a seven-game losing streak in the middle of the season revealed their weaknesses as a team.
“There were a lot of lessons to be learned this year,” head coach Cortney Kellenaers said. “It didn’t go our way in the win-loss column, but I think if people were looking properly they got a lot out of it. Hopefully it’s a good experience that will help us grow.”
The team will lose senior team captains Luis Elizondo and Josh Munoz, but young talent such as sophomores Kyle O’Hare and Brian Garcia have shown flashes of unique talent and are poised to pick up where the four departing players left off.
“I think we have a lot to work on,” Kellenaers said. “Isolating it down to one thing is pretty much impossible, but it’s a young team so we have a lot of opportunities to grow.”
Junior team captain and goalkeeper Manuel Melendrez will be an important player for the team to feed off of heading into next season. The Rams could have as many as 11 seniors on the roster next season.
The schedule in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s 5A Conference won’t get any easier, but an experienced Rams team should provide a bright future for the up-and-coming program.