GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — McAllen High’s boys soccer team is having perhaps its best season in coach Fernando Segovia’s 12-year tenure, and a trio of senior midfielders has been at the heart of that success.
The defensive leaning Jose Gil starts the majority of the plays, retrieving the ball on the back end. He typically works the ball to Beto Silva, the Bulldogs’ primary distributor. And Silva never hesitates to send a pass to Brandon Rangel, the attacking midfielder and team’s leader with 27 goals.
“They’re very good players. They listen. They’re coachable. They move. They’re just quick,” Segovia said. “They do those one-touch passes in mid that just melt away defenses.”
Behind the stellar midfield, McHi went 12-0 in District 30-6A and advanced to an area round matchup against Brownsville Hanna at 5:30 tonight at Weslaco East.
A win would mark the Bulldogs’ first trip past the area round of the playoffs since 2006. Last season was McHi’s first appearance in the area round since 2008, and the Bulldogs welcomed back eight starters for 2016. That group includes the three midfielders, who have history going back to middle school and have been playing side-by-side on varsity since their sophomore seasons.
“We’ve gotten a lot closer. A lot, lot, lot closer,” Rangel said. “We have our backs, whether it’s inside the field or outside the field. We’ve grown more connected to each other.”
Gil said the team became a family over the past three years. While the varsity squad doesn’t have the same size as in previous seasons, the Bulldogs make up for it with speed, talent and skill in a more attacking style.
To make that style work, Rangel put greater emphasis on his time with the cross country team during the fall. The diligence has made the team fresher both mentally and physically in late-game situations.
“Running is a really big part of our game, and we put it to good use,” Silva said. “Usually, by the second half, the other team is tired out, and we just take advantage of that.”
Segovia describes Silva as silent but deadly, using his quick feet to score five goals in district. Silva said he was scared to dribble the ball as a freshman, always swift to look to make a pass. Now, he’s become a more well-rounded player.
Gil, McHi’s wall on the back end, jumps out from the bunch with his conditioning.
“He has like five lungs,” Segovia said. “He can run forever. He’s quick. He’s aggressive. Honestly, he’s the heart of the midfield.”
Rangel controls the mid with his vision, quickness, and finishing ability. Segovia said Rangel never faded from the responsibility of taking on a captain role as a senior.
“They’ve given me that position to lead them, and I think it’s easier for me taking that role,” Rangel said. “I’m not forcing it. I’m not asking for it. It’s more of a mutual communication with the team and me. That’s a key part about it, too.”
Before the season, top forward Adrian Rodriguez left the team to play with an academy in Houston. His backup, Miguel Lopez, missed most of the year with a knee injury. Together, the absences forced McHi to put even more emphasis on its midfield core.
The Bulldogs weren’t happy with their slow start in tournament and non-district play but recovered to form the best team any of the players could recall being on. Segovia said the squad is more mature than in previous years, not showing any nerves once the playoffs hit. He also saw the group build trust as the season progressed.
Playing in a District 30-6A that Segovia and other coaches have compared favorably with the usually more potent District 32-6A, McHi went 12-0, winning nine of those games by multiple goals.
“We’re always pretty happy to finish with an undefeated record,” Rangel said. “We have to keep working hard, because it’s only the second round, and our goal is to take it all the way to state.”
Senior midfield trio propelling McAllen High to one of program’s best seasons
BY GREG LUCA
STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — McAllen High’s boys soccer team is having perhaps its best season in coach Fernando Segovia’s 12-year tenure, and a trio of senior midfielders has been at the heart of that success.
The defensive leaning Jose Gil starts the majority of the plays, retrieving the ball on the back end. He typically works the ball to Beto Silva, the Bulldogs’ primary distributor. And Silva never hesitates to send a pass to Brandon Rangel, the attacking midfielder and team’s leader with 27 goals.
“They’re very good players. They listen. They’re coachable. They move. They’re just quick,” Segovia said. “They do those one-touch passes in mid that just melt away defenses.”
Behind the stellar midfield, McHi went 12-0 in District 30-6A and advanced to an area round matchup against Brownsville Hanna at 5:30 tonight at Weslaco East.
A win would mark the Bulldogs’ first trip past the area round of the playoffs since 2006. Last season was McHi’s first appearance in the area round since 2008, and the Bulldogs welcomed back eight starters for 2016. That group includes the three midfielders, who have history going back to middle school and have been playing side-by-side on varsity since their sophomore seasons.
“We’ve gotten a lot closer. A lot, lot, lot closer,” Rangel said. “We have our backs, whether it’s inside the field or outside the field. We’ve grown more connected to each other.”
Gil said the team became a family over the past three years. While the varsity squad doesn’t have the same size as in previous seasons, the Bulldogs make up for it with speed, talent and skill in a more attacking style.
To make that style work, Rangel put greater emphasis on his time with the cross country team during the fall. The diligence has made the team fresher both mentally and physically in late-game situations.
“Running is a really big part of our game, and we put it to good use,” Silva said. “Usually, by the second half, the other team is tired out, and we just take advantage of that.”
Segovia describes Silva as silent but deadly, using his quick feet to score five goals in district. Silva said he was scared to dribble the ball as a freshman, always swift to look to make a pass. Now, he’s become a more well-rounded player.
Gil, McHi’s wall on the back end, jumps out from the bunch with his conditioning.
“He has like five lungs,” Segovia said. “He can run forever. He’s quick. He’s aggressive. Honestly, he’s the heart of the midfield.”
Rangel controls the mid with his vision, quickness, and finishing ability. Segovia said Rangel never faded from the responsibility of taking on a captain role as a senior.
“They’ve given me that position to lead them, and I think it’s easier for me taking that role,” Rangel said. “I’m not forcing it. I’m not asking for it. It’s more of a mutual communication with the team and me. That’s a key part about it, too.”
Before the season, top forward Adrian Rodriguez left the team to play with an academy in Houston. His backup, Miguel Lopez, missed most of the year with a knee injury. Together, the absences forced McHi to put even more emphasis on its midfield core.
The Bulldogs weren’t happy with their slow start in tournament and non-district play but recovered to form the best team any of the players could recall being on. Segovia said the squad is more mature than in previous years, not showing any nerves once the playoffs hit. He also saw the group build trust as the season progressed.
Playing in a District 30-6A that Segovia and other coaches have compared favorably with the usually more potent District 32-6A, McHi went 12-0, winning nine of those games by multiple goals.
“We’re always pretty happy to finish with an undefeated record,” Rangel said. “We have to keep working hard, because it’s only the second round, and our goal is to take it all the way to state.”