Boys’ soccer looks forward to a promising season

Senior Nathan Zaragoza dribbles during a game last spring against Milpitas as part of Season 2.

Saddled with a compatible head coach and team composed of majority returning players, the team is confident about this year’s season, harboring high hopes for CCS.

Head Coach: Max Dorling

Last year’s record: 6-6

Recap: Due to low participation as a result of COVID-19, there was no JV team. The varsity team finished 4th in the league.

Key Matchups: Lynbrook, Monta Vista

Star Players: seniors left back Andrew Choi, center back Aidan Costello, midfield Shaheen Masoumi, junior back Dylan Sinton, sophomore striker Yul Hong

Key losses to graduation: center back Kyle Massie and winger Nolan Chen

League: El Camino

Prognosis:

Last year, after the departure of head coach Chris Stott, the team adjusted to new coach Max Dorling, a Class of 2012 alumnus who had played soccer during his time here. Because of his experience with the school’s sports culture, Dorling knew what the climate was like and was more comfortable with coaching, senior captain and center back Aidan Costello said.

“I think the [new] coaching made a big difference.” Costello said. “We performed miles better last year than in previous seasons, and were one place away from qualifying for CCS.”

The team is excited to return after such a strangean anomalous year. This year’s season resembles a more normal year: Players are now able to take off their masks and play with full contact.

“Because of COVID-19 last year, we weren’t able to have a preseason tournament, but that just makes me look forward to it more,” junior back Dylan Sinton said.

This year, larger turnout at tryouts and an influx of new talent means that there will be a JV team. According to Costello, while no freshmen made varsity, many are “pretty skilled and have potential.”

The core varsity team will remain largely the same with only two key losses to graduation, so it will be “pretty easy to fill those holes,” Costello said.

The team has a competitive group of 15 players this year that played together as well last season, and Sinton is confident that the team will qualify for CCS.

“Overall, we have a pretty good chemistry because a lot of our players have played outside of school together [for club soccer],” Sinton said.