Sachse senior Luis Deleon (20) will look to help lead the Mustangs back to the playoffs. File photo

By David Wolman

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Last season presented a lot of challenges for the Sachse boys soccer team.

Not only were there not a lot of seniors for the Mustangs but they also dealt with injuries to starters towards the end of the season as they attempted to clinch a playoff berth. But through all of that adversity, Sachse never lost focus of its ultimate goal. Not only did Sachse earn much-needed points in games, including winning five of six penalty-kick shootouts, but they fulfilled their goal of making the playoffs. 

Through Sachse’s 5-2-2 record over the last nine games of the regular season, the Mustangs leaned heavily on their junior class, several of whom played on varsity as sophomore during the team’s run to the state tournament. 

Although Sachse’s season ended prematurely ended following a 3-0 loss to Mesquite in the bi-district round of the Class 6A playoffs, the good news is that the Mustangs lost very few players to graduation. With seven returning starters, nine returning lettermen and 14 seniors all back for Sachse, head coach Benjamin Buentello is hopeful that all of that experience will translate into another long playoff run for the Mustangs.

“This group of guys knows how important this season is, and they have worked hard all throughout the fall to prepare to be successful,” he said. 

Most of that returning experience will be comprised of midfielders, defenseman and goalkeepers.

Senior goalkeeper Josh Weston is back for his third season in goal for Sachse. As a junior, he recorded six shutouts on the season and was later named to the District 9-6A second team. Two years ago, during the Musangs’ run to the state tournament, Weston earned recognition on the Texas High School Coaches Association super elite team and Texas Association of Soccer Coaches all-state first team.

With several players missing games two weeks ago because of a club soccer event in Florida, as well as a couple of other players that were out of town for the holidays, the Mustangs had several players step up and help to produce solid results against quality competition, including goalkeeper Beckam Morrison, who is Sachse’s backup goalkeeper. He earned two shutouts with the help of some other reserves and JV guys called up to play on the back line.

Weston has two reliable defenseman in front of him in junior Diego Hernandez and senior Chance Anderson, both of whom made the all-9-6A first team last year. Anderson also provided a scoring touch with six goals.

Sachse boasts a talented midfield with seniors Ryan McMillan and Jayden Garcia, both of whom are three-year lettermen, Daniel Moreno, Jayden Garcia, Luis Deleon, Robert Munoz and Atilis Montes. McMillan tallied five goals and four assists as a junior, while Deleon chipped in two goals and two assists. 

Buentello is also excited about the potential for three varsity newcomers – sophomore forward Aiden Ronquillo, sophomore defender Jovanni Vasquez and freshman midfielder Matvey Strelchik.