Photo by Devin Carson

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.

Adam Wolfe
Adam Wolfe
http://inmaricopa.com
Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams.
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