From being overlooked to making the playoffs, the varsity boys soccer team had a season that some people didn’t expect. The team hosted a playoff game for the first time in 10 years and won the first round at home, showing they can hold their own against strong teams.
“It’s been a major improvement,” Ilder Reyes Garcia, junior, said. “We won a lot of games and showed we can compete with other teams.”
Though they lost in the second round to DW Daniel High School, for these players, this is just the beginning because making the playoffs isn’t the finish line; it’s just the start.
Reyes Garcia has been on the team for three years and started playing in seventh grade. Junior Selvin Argueta has been playing since he was five and has also been on the team for three years. Then there’s sophomore Diego Soriano, who’s been playing since he was three, but this is his first year actually on the team. That mix of experience with new players is part of what made this season different.
“It’s been really good. We won a lot of games, lost a few, but we played good overall,” Argueta said.
Soriano agreed. “We did good. We won a lot of games and only lost three.”
Even early on, they could tell this team wasn’t the same. One moment that stood out was a scrimmage against Hammond. They lost 2–0.
“We showed resilience,” Reyes Garcia said. “If we had more time as a team, we could’ve won that game.”
After that, their mindset shifted. Some of the players said they already knew after that first game that they had a chance to go far. A big reason why is how well they play together now.
“It’s more us playing for each other,” Reyes Garcia said. “Everybody understands how each other plays. It’s not just individual, it’s the whole team.”
Compared to last season, the difference is obvious not just in wins but in how connected they are on the field. Another major factor in their success has been their preparation. Coach Caleb Daniels has brought a different kind of energy and belief to the team. He already knew the talent was there; it was just about turning talent and passion into results. He pushes the players to adjust, stay focused, and trust each other, while also reminding them to play freely and not stress the outcome of the game
“I like to tell our players to listen to the coaches’ guidance and not to worry about the result of the game,” Daniels said. “It’s our responsibility as coaches whether we win or lose; the players just need to work hard, learn, and have fun.”
That mindset has helped build confidence across the team and made them more prepared for big moments.
That preparation shows during games. “He gives us the proper training tactics,” Argueta said.
Reyes Garcia added, “He tells us to relax and play how we know how to play. That helps a lot because he trusts us.”
Leadership has also played a role in how far they’ve come. Senior Fran Alexander Mencia Baires has stepped up as one of the main leaders and goal scorers, helping carry the team in big moments.
Making the playoffs isn’t just about winning; it means something bigger for the program.
“I think it means a lot,” Reyes Garcia said. “I don’t think we’ve made it in the last couple of years. It’s a big achievement. We’re proud of it.”
But they’re not trying to stop there. “We want to show we can really go far,” Argueta said.
Reyes Garcia said, “To show that we can compete with any team.”
And that’s what this season is about: changing how people see them.
“We’re a good team, it’s not like past teams,” Reyes Garcia said. “People used to say we weren’t good, but now they can’t say that about us.”
Going into the playoffs, this team wasn’t just happy to be there. They had something to prove.
