GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Last season, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln advanced to the regional quarterfinals of the Class 6A playoffs, losing to eventual state champion Brownsville Rivera in penalty kicks. Coach Victor Ramos called it a rebuilding year.
Such are the standards and expectations at Juarez-Lincoln. And with seven returning starters in 2016, the Huskies have their sights set much higher — on claiming a state title of their own.
“I think we can get to state champions, because of how we’re doing right now,” senior Javier Garcia said. “We can get there if we always have a positive mind.”
The Huskies have already shown some of their potential in the Mission Tournament, sweeping through the first two days of group play. On Thursday, Juarez-Lincoln clashed with fellow unbeaten Sharyland High and pulled out a 1-0 win to move to 5-0.
Juan Hernandez scored the lone goal for the Huskies, taking possession of the ball at the top of the box and firing it into the right side of the net.
“The goal is to go all the way, and I think it’s time,” Ramos said. “We’ve been so close to going to the state tournament, and that’s what our goal is.”
Juarez-Lincoln has proven worthy of the elevated expectations, reaching the playoffs in each of its seven years as a varsity program. The Huskies have escaped the first round each season, advancing to the regional finals in 2010 and the regional semis in 2012.
“I think this is the best team we’ve had so far at Juarez-Lincoln,” midfielder Manuel Castrejon said. “It’s a great offense and defense, and I think we can get where we want to be.”
Castrejon, a sophomore captain, is emblematic of Juarez-Lincoln’s development. He began last season as a substitute for a Huskies team with eight senior starters, but he had carved out a starting role by the middle of the year.
Other younger players also emerged for the Huskies mid-season, such that Juarez-Lincoln has seven starters coming back for 2016.
Still, Juarez-Lincoln’s lineup is young. Castrejon and fellow midfielder Gerardo Reyes are sophomores, while the forward tandem of Hernandez and Elias Adame are juniors. Ramos highlighted all four as key players, along with senior stopper Didier Sanchez.
“We have a combination of kids with experience, and new kids with great skills and dedication,” Ramos said. “We still have a new group, but we’ll get it together, and we’re playing good soccer at this point.”
Castrejon has been Juarez-Lincoln’s primary distributor in the middle of the field for as long as he’s been in the lineup, and he admits the role came with a lot of pressure for a freshman.
He said the support of his teammates made the job easier, and he’s tried to adopt a similar mentality as he steps into a leadership role this year. He used to be easily discouraged when something went wrong during a game, and it would bring down his teammates.
“I was a negative player,” Castrejon said. “My coach talked to me a lot about my personality. I have to get better, and I’m working on it.”
At a slightly built 5-foot-1, Castrejon wasn’t ready to take on full varsity minutes when he initially entered the program.
For the first half of the season, Castrejon was mostly a sub, playing some during second halves.
“He was too little,” Ramos said. “We need to protect those kind of players. … They try to sometimes do more than they’re supposed to, and when you play against big kids who have experience, it can hurt them.”
Castrejon has grown three or four inches from last season, now up to 5-foot-4 or 5-foot-5, Ramos said. He’s also learned to move the ball quicker. Castrejon said his strongest attribute is his ability to make opponents miss with the ball at his feet, but Ramos has stressed that making a quick pass is a safer bet to keep the diminutive Castrejon healthy.
The experience of last year’s playoff run has also been key not just for Castrejon, but for all of Juarez-Lincoln’s returners.
“I had the privilege to play with a lot of teammates who left a great legacy behind,” Castrejon said. “Now, that’s for me to follow.”
BY GREG LUCA
STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Last season, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln advanced to the regional quarterfinals of the Class 6A playoffs, losing to eventual state champion Brownsville Rivera in penalty kicks. Coach Victor Ramos called it a rebuilding year.
Such are the standards and expectations at Juarez-Lincoln. And with seven returning starters in 2016, the Huskies have their sights set much higher — on claiming a state title of their own.
“I think we can get to state champions, because of how we’re doing right now,” senior Javier Garcia said. “We can get there if we always have a positive mind.”
The Huskies have already shown some of their potential in the Mission Tournament, sweeping through the first two days of group play. On Thursday, Juarez-Lincoln clashed with fellow unbeaten Sharyland High and pulled out a 1-0 win to move to 5-0.
Juan Hernandez scored the lone goal for the Huskies, taking possession of the ball at the top of the box and firing it into the right side of the net.
“The goal is to go all the way, and I think it’s time,” Ramos said. “We’ve been so close to go to the state tournament, and that’s what our goal is.”
Juarez-Lincoln has proven worthy of the elevated expectations, reaching the playoffs in each of its seven years as a varsity program. The Huskies have escaped the first round each season, advancing to the regional finals in 2010 and the regional semis in 2012.
“I think this is the best team we’ve had so far at Juarez-Lincoln,” midfielder Manuel Castrejon said. “It’s a great offense and defense, and I think we can get where we want to be.”
Castrejon, a sophomore captain, is emblematic of Juarez-Lincoln’s development. He began last season as a substitute for a Huskies team with eight senior starters, but he had carved out a starting role by the middle of the year.
Other younger players also emerged for the Huskies mid-season, such that Juarez-Lincoln has seven starters coming back for 2016.
Still, Juarez-Lincoln’s lineup is young. Castrejon and fellow midfielder Gerardo Reyes are sophomores, while the forward tandem of Hernandez and Elias Adame are juniors. Ramos highlighted all four as key players, along with senior stopper Didier Sanchez.
“We have a combination of kids with experience, and new kids with great skills and dedication,” Ramos said. “We still have a new group, but we’ll get it together, and we’re playing good soccer at this point.”
Castrejon has been Juarez-Lincoln’s primary distributor in the middle of the field for as long as he’s been in the lineup, and he admits the role came with a lot of pressure for a freshman.
He said the support of his teammates made the job easier, and he’s tried to adopt a similar mentality as he steps into a leadership role this year. He used to be easily discouraged when something went wrong during a game, and it would bring down his teammates.
“I was a negative player,” Castrejon said. “My coach talked to me a lot about my personality. I have to get better, and I’m working on it.”
At a slightly built 5-foot-1, Castrejon wasn’t ready to take on full varsity minutes when he initially entered the program.
For the first half of the season, Castrejon was mostly a sub, playing some during second halves.
“He was too little,” Ramos said. “We need to protect those kind of players. … They try to sometimes do more than they’re supposed to, and when you play against big kids who have experience, it can hurt them.”
Castrejon has grown three or four inches from last season, now up to 5-foot-4 or 5-foot-5, Ramos said. He’s also learned to move the ball quicker. Castrejon said his strongest attribute is his ability to make opponents miss with the ball at his feet, but Ramos has stressed that making a quick pass is a safer bet to keep the diminutive Castrejon healthy.
The experience of last year’s playoff run has also been key not just for Castrejon, but for all of Juarez-Lincoln’s returners.
“I had the privilege to play with a lot of teammates who left a great legacy behind,” Castrejon said. “Now, that’s for me to follow.”