By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
After winning nine district titles in a row, last fall was another rebuilding season for the Monett boys soccer team.
The Cubs went 10-14 overall with five losses by a goal as the team introduced several players to varsity soccer, new roles and new positions.
“We had four good seniors that graduated,” head coach Cristobal Villa said. “We have a lot of those other kids back this year along with 15 freshmen so we’re still pretty young. We have about five seniors and six juniors and then the rest of the roster is composed of sophomores and freshmen.”
Even with the relative inexperience, Villa is “super excited” heading into a new season because the 2023 Cubs already remind him of teams from earlier in his tenure.
“They’re very hungry, very motivated, very coachable and you can tell they want to make a change and get back to a district championship game,” he said. “We have a lot of speed with these kids. Their speed is going to be phenomenal and they’re just working very hard.”
Monett will be led by several returners this fall. Junior Ivan Montelongo is back as a forward. Sophomore Santiago Bernal, who was the team’s top scoring threat, missed most of last season with an injury but is now healthy. Senior Grason Mahl returns to the midfield. Junior Aaron Lopez returns as a midfielder and defender. Senior Christian Vail is back as a defender and has played all four years. Junior Osiel Serrano returns at left wing and sophomore Israel Valdez returns at right wing.
Besides Bernal, that group played virtually every game last season.
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Junior goalkeeper Samuel Garcia will get a shot to start this fall after serving as backup last year, and freshman keeper Alex Patiño is also fighting for the position.
“One of them will be playing on the field but they’re both really good as keepers,” Villa said.
Junior Lance Anderson will play on defense for the Cubs, and the rest of the lineup will be filled out by freshmen or varsity newcomers.
“This is my 11th year coaching and the nine years we were district champions, we had kids that were hungry,” Villa said. “These last two years, it’s not that they were not as hungry as my other teams – they had good leaders and people trying to step up, but I think the speed this year is what’s going to define the team. I’m so excited because as many teams as I’ve coached, these kids are going to be special, I think, and do some great things. Their attitude is amazing, their bonding is extremely good. They have each other’s back and are just like brothers. That’s real important to see as a coach.”
The Cubs have added a new face to the coaching staff in Cameron Cody, who was the team’s goalkeeper in 2016 when Monett went 19-7-1 and finished as the Class 2 runner up.
Monett will be at the Joplin jamboree on Aug. 22 along with Neosho. The Cubs open the regular season Aug. 28 at home against Parkview. New Covenant Academy has been added to the schedule. Monett will return to the Viking Classic and Rock Bridge Invitational.
“We play some powerhouses out there, big Class 4 teams and we love the competition,” Villa said. “We always play to better ourselves and that’s the schedule we need to help us get ready for playoff season.”
