Donovan Luevano started playing soccer at age 7, a decision he said was made by his father. After three years on the pitch, he realized he hated running.
Rather than quit the sport, Luevano decided to switch positions, strapping on a pair of gloves and moving to goalkeeper at age 10. He immediately fell in love with his new position, because it didn’t require much running.
Still, Luevano said it was the pressure that came with playing inside the net that sealed the deal for him playing goalkeeper. The move paid its dividends, as Luevano became a two-year starter for the Edinburg High Bobcats.
This year, he thrived under pressure, with the Bobcats outscoring opponents 40-8 during district play with the senior goalkeeper in the net. Because of his shutdown performances, Luevano is The Monitor’s 2021 All-Area Boys Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year.
“I like the pressure,” Luevanos said. “I like playing under pressure. And in the back, you can use your hands, too, and it’s a big advantage.”
With the Bobcats chasing the No. 2 seed in District 31-6A, Luevano ramped up his play during the second half of the season, allowing only one goal during the final seven games of the season. In total, the Bobcats recorded 10 shutouts with Luevano in the net, finishing the season with an 11-2-3 record during district play.
Bobcats head coach Luis Cardenas said he was unsure what to expect of Luevano after seeing him on the junior varsity squad during his first two years. This year, Luevano left Cardenas impressed, earning the District 31-6A goalkeeper of the year award, while becoming a force inside the net.
“He only has two years of experience on varsity,” Cardenas said. “In JV, sometimes you see them grow and he started slow in JV. Then, to make the jump from JV to varsity that was a big impression for me. It’s a different level to play in varsity. At the beginning he struggled in JV but then to make it to varsity and play at that level, we were extremely impressed at the level he got to.”
Cardenas said it is Luevano’s confidence that has led to his success, with the senior stepping up as a leader this year on a young Bobcats squad.
“He was very confident and very sure of himself,” he said. “He was a leader on the field. He was one of the few who would try and motivate everybody. Defensively, we had very good players but not everybody would talk. He would tell them to go this way or where to move and stuff like that and we needed someone like that.”
Still, Luevano gives credit to his defenders for helping him be able to excel during his senior year.
“I just try to make the goal smaller and try to attack the ball,” he said. “I just stay focused every game and no distractions when we’re practicing and especially during the game. But my defense was a big part of it all, too. My defenders — Brandon Calderon, Humberto Martinez and Saul Salinas — they were huge for me.”
Luevano capped off a dominating senior year by helping the Bobcats achieve their first playoff victory since 2003, defeating the Brownsville Hanna Eagles 3-1 during the first round of the Class 6A postseason.
“It was a big one,” he said. “Very emotional. We wanted to quiet down the people who didn’t believe in us. And we got the win over there in Brownsville.”
Currently, Luevano is unsure whether he will strap on his goalkeeper gloves again. Still, he is not ready to close the door on a future in the sport just yet.
“I’m seeing my options right now,” Luevano said. “If any college gives me the perfect fit, I’ll gladly go and play soccer for them.”