By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Harlingen South sophomore defender Alejandro Sanchez is new on the varsity soccer scene.
But he showed flashes of elite defensive ability and was one of the most coachable players on Hawks coach Julian Robles’ squad this season.
Sanchez is the Valley Morning Star’s 2020 All-STAR Boys Soccer Newcomer of the Year.
“I know I put in as much effort as the other guys,” Sanchez said. “I’m just honored and very grateful to have managed to pull off this award.”
Robles said Sanchez came into the program with a strong work ethic, humility and a love for the game. But that alone wasn’t going to cut it — he had big shoes to fill after a strong class of Hawks seniors departed in 2019.
“I knew this year I had to step it up,” Sanchez said. “We knew that the freshman and incoming sophomores had to step it up. I’m very proud about what I’ve done this season.”
Sanchez listed among the season’s highlights the fact that he started in 20 of the 23 games in which South played, and he saw time in all but one of the Hawks’ contests in 2020. There was also the chance to experience beating rival Harlingen High — twice.
His coach said Sanchez is an inquisitive mind and was eager to learn as much as he could about the ins and outs of the central defender position.
“He has a lot of room to grow, he’s still young,” Robles said. “We’ve worked with him during the offseason to get him up to speed. He’s made some mistakes, but that’s part of the game. … He’s been learning how to read the field and maneuver, and he’s a fast learner.”
Robles said the most important aspect of Sanchez’s game is his ability to quickly bring the ball upfield and move the ball to his team’s midfielders.
Also, the sophomore is unafraid to play a physical game, but he has the ability to finesse. The Hawks coaches quickly observed his flair for the dramatic whenever the ball is between his feet.
“He helped us defensively,” Robles said. “We were able to use him to play off the angles and start the offense. … He does things with a soccer ball that make me say, ‘There’s no way he can do that’. He just surprised the heck out of us.”