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Mavs believe they’ve upped offensive soccer punch
By ROBERT AVERY
Scott Macneish has officially retired that specific speech he’s recited for several years.
No more will the Memorial High School boys’ soccer coach need to discuss the “Get over the hump speech” with his squads.
This past March, the Mavericks finally climbed over that dreaded hump by breaking through and capturing the program’s first-ever state playoff berth by finishing fourth.
But in District 22-5A where playoff berths are routinely nabbed by razor-thin margins, Memorial knows it will be in another dogfight this winter to remain one of District 22-5A’s top four squads.
Last season’s prize was secured with a great deal of help from some overachieving sophomores, who helped the program turn the corner. Now with the page turned, Memorial has some fresh goals in mind.
“I’m excited. Our goals have changed. Our goal last year was to make the playoffs. This year, we think we can contend for the district championship,” Macneish said following Friday’s practice.
“You gotta be able to play with the Pearlands. You gotta be able to play with the Deer Parks. There’s no easy game. That’s the problem with our district,” Macneish said.
But there was some disappointment with last year’s postseason berth. The team sat in second place for the entire race and then hit a drought for the final three matches, resulting in the fourth-place berth.
“Last year, we were in second for so long and we kind of lost it in the last week. Hopefully, we kind of learned from that. This year when it comes around and we’re in the same kind of position, whatever position we’re in, maybe we can hold where we are.”
Pasadena, Dobie and Deer Park caused Memorial to lose its second-place position in the final days of the district race. The offensive punch was decent last year, but the muscle flexing on the offensive side wasn’t consistent enough. The Pasadena game was a prime example. The Eagles didn’t make the playoffs, but Memorial could only manage a 1-1 tie.
“I think we have a little more offensive power this year. Last year, everything was heart attack city. Every game was like a one-goal game,” Macneish said. “Our district is so tough, I’m sure it’s going to be the same way. But we’ve got a little more offense coming in. I’m excited about a few players coming up.”
Making his varsity debut will be sophomore Aaron Rodriguez, who broke the junior varsity scoring record by drilling 29 balls into the back of the net. Macneish said he would have had Rodriguez on varsity last season, but because he and his sister had just moved into the district, by rules he had to sit out a season.
“He’ll be great for Brian (Garcia) because he’s got so much speed. We’ll have two guys who can match each other for speed,” Macneish said. “He just goes through walls to get the ball. He’s a little different than Brian. It’s a neat contrast between the two of them. One’s a little bit more finesse.”
As for the starters returning, Memorial will return its goalkeeper in Issac Yanez, who is a junior.
“Anytime we needed a big save, he got it for us,” Macneish said. “The best thing I can say about Issac is he never let in a bad goal. He saved us in so many games.”
Yanez is one of three players who earned their stripes as sophomores. Sweeper Raymundo Medrando and Garcia at forward give the Mavs more valuable experience. In the midfield, Memorial fans will also see the return of Elisondo Cortes.
“He’s going to be playing a real important role for us. He’s going to be dropping back. He was playing forward, but I’m going to drop him in at midfield,” Macneish said. “He’s great on free kicks. He scored against Kingwood on a free kick. He’s got great vision and a great touch on the ball.”
Macneish believes last season’s postseason berth has created a little swagger, a swagger that had been missing for the program’s opening four seasons.
“Just having that attitude that they can do it was never there. There was never anybody to follow. Now they have a team to follow in the steps of,” Macneish said. “I think that takes a little bit of the pressure off them too. It was one of those things of getting the monkey off their back. Now they feel they belong in that playoff race. Before we weren’t sure if we were contenders or not.”
No more will the Memorial High School boys’ soccer coach need to discuss the “Get over the hump speech” with his squads.
This past March, the Mavericks finally climbed over that dreaded hump by breaking through and capturing the program’s first-ever state playoff berth by finishing fourth.
But in District 22-5A where playoff berths are routinely nabbed by razor-thin margins, Memorial knows it will be in another dogfight this winter to remain one of District 22-5A’s top four squads.
Last season’s prize was secured with a great deal of help from some overachieving sophomores, who helped the program turn the corner. Now with the page turned, Memorial has some fresh goals in mind.
“I’m excited. Our goals have changed. Our goal last year was to make the playoffs. This year, we think we can contend for the district championship,” Macneish said following Friday’s practice.
“You gotta be able to play with the Pearlands. You gotta be able to play with the Deer Parks. There’s no easy game. That’s the problem with our district,” Macneish said.
But there was some disappointment with last year’s postseason berth. The team sat in second place for the entire race and then hit a drought for the final three matches, resulting in the fourth-place berth.
“Last year, we were in second for so long and we kind of lost it in the last week. Hopefully, we kind of learned from that. This year when it comes around and we’re in the same kind of position, whatever position we’re in, maybe we can hold where we are.”
Pasadena, Dobie and Deer Park caused Memorial to lose its second-place position in the final days of the district race. The offensive punch was decent last year, but the muscle flexing on the offensive side wasn’t consistent enough. The Pasadena game was a prime example. The Eagles didn’t make the playoffs, but Memorial could only manage a 1-1 tie.
“I think we have a little more offensive power this year. Last year, everything was heart attack city. Every game was like a one-goal game,” Macneish said. “Our district is so tough, I’m sure it’s going to be the same way. But we’ve got a little more offense coming in. I’m excited about a few players coming up.”
Making his varsity debut will be sophomore Aaron Rodriguez, who broke the junior varsity scoring record by drilling 29 balls into the back of the net. Macneish said he would have had Rodriguez on varsity last season, but because he and his sister had just moved into the district, by rules he had to sit out a season.
“He’ll be great for Brian (Garcia) because he’s got so much speed. We’ll have two guys who can match each other for speed,” Macneish said. “He just goes through walls to get the ball. He’s a little different than Brian. It’s a neat contrast between the two of them. One’s a little bit more finesse.”
As for the starters returning, Memorial will return its goalkeeper in Issac Yanez, who is a junior.
“Anytime we needed a big save, he got it for us,” Macneish said. “The best thing I can say about Issac is he never let in a bad goal. He saved us in so many games.”
Yanez is one of three players who earned their stripes as sophomores. Sweeper Raymundo Medrando and Garcia at forward give the Mavs more valuable experience. In the midfield, Memorial fans will also see the return of Elisondo Cortes.
“He’s going to be playing a real important role for us. He’s going to be dropping back. He was playing forward, but I’m going to drop him in at midfield,” Macneish said. “He’s great on free kicks. He scored against Kingwood on a free kick. He’s got great vision and a great touch on the ball.”
Macneish believes last season’s postseason berth has created a little swagger, a swagger that had been missing for the program’s opening four seasons.
“Just having that attitude that they can do it was never there. There was never anybody to follow. Now they have a team to follow in the steps of,” Macneish said. “I think that takes a little bit of the pressure off them too. It was one of those things of getting the monkey off their back. Now they feel they belong in that playoff race. Before we weren’t sure if we were contenders or not.”
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