ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Opposing teams know all too well what No. 10 from Brownsville Veterans Memorial can do on the soccer field.
They’ve come to see Mark Boswell as a dangerous player with superb skills and as someone they must always account for, especially when he has the ball.
Now they can also know him as The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro MVP for 2019 boys soccer.
“Mark is one of those players who can turn the momentum of a game at any moment,” Brownsville Veterans coach Alberto Vasquez said. “He has that ability to create something out of nothing. Mark is the type of player that the other teams worry about constantly. He can create a lot on and off the ball.”
Boswell, a forward who just completed his junior season, has started on the varsity since he was a freshman. During each of Boswell’s seasons with the Chargers, they’ve advanced to the Region IV-5A Tournament final. That’s going five deep in the playoffs three straight years.
This season was one of Boswell’s best. He finished with 18 goals and a remarkable 30 assists. If he wasn’t able to score himself, he found a way to get the ball to someone who could.
The team scoring leader for 2019 was center midfielder Albert Maradiaga, also a junior, with 21 goals and 12 assists. No one, however, came close to Boswell’s assist total.
Boswell tries to maintain his composure at all times.
“I don’t stress about the game we’re playing too much,” he said. “To me, it’s just another game. The most important thing to me is I always want to win.”
The Chargers finished second in 32-5A in 2019 and went 23-3-1 on the season.
“To play on this team is an honor, and it’s great,” said Boswell, who was named offensive player of the year in 32-5A this season. “The teammates that we bring in every year help us out a lot. It’s been a different challenge every season. We lose some players (to graduation), but the (high) aspirations we (always) have around here and with our coaching staff, it works out well.
“Everyone puts in the effort, and no one cuts any slack (for what we need to do),” Boswell added. “Everybody is looking for the best. Thank God we’ve been able to push through and go as far as we’ve gone.
“We accomplished a lot this season. The only thing that brought us down was not getting to state (as we lost to Valley View 4-2 in the regional final on April 13 in Corpus Christi). We didn’t follow through and reach the destination that we wanted (of going to Georgetown).”
There is going to be plenty of optimism again for the Chargers next season as Boswell, Maradiaga and several other experienced players will be back.
“Nothing changes (as far as our expectations),” Boswell said. “There are no doubts among any of us. We just want to make sure we can finally push through (and get to state).”
It would appear quite certain that Boswell will be one of the players leading the way for the Chargers in 2020.
“Mark is a very talented player, and he helps a lot when we need it most,” said Brownsville Veterans’ Diego Bernal, a graduating senior who was named All-Metro Utility Player of the Year. “He’s always there when we need him.”
When asked what it is like to be the All-Metro MVP after being chosen offensive player of the year in 32-5A, Boswell said, “It’s a blessing (to win these awards). Most importantly, all thanks and glory to God. I’m very grateful for the support I have from my family, friends and teammates.”