Sports
Sachse boys looking to return to area's elite
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
It was not long ago--2009 to be exact--that Sachse was one of the biggest names on the local boys soccer scene.
The Mustangs were ranked the No. 1 team in the nation by some services during the regular season and advanced to the Class 5A Region II tournament.
But those times seem like the distant past for this year's group, who were too young to enjoy that success and who have missed out on the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
That is only part of the motivation as Sachse tries to return to where it feels it belongs as part of the postseason field.
The Mustangs got started against some good competition in the Jesuit-Meinster Tournament last week and should again get some good tests at the Denton Guyer Iron Bridge Classic this week.
They are hoping that will help prepare them for district play, where they had several tight games last year but finished with a 2-6-4 record.
"Our preseason focus is mainly to get guys time on the field in different positions to see where we might gel the best," Sachse head coach Jacob Bruehl said. "We have a deep bench this year and I want to see how I can best utilize this strength with different player combinations."
Sachse has a solid nucleus to build around. Casey Eaton, who is being recruited by several colleges, can play forward or midfield. Gean Paul Figari and Ozem Alvarez bolster the midfield while Connor O'Hayre is back to anchor the defense.
Among the newcomers the Mustangs will be leaning on will be midfielder Damel Hardamon, defender Daniel Santibanez and goalkeeper Cody Stricker.
Many of the Sachse players know the sting of coming up short of the playoffs a year ago. But they know that is the in the past and they look forward to writing a different chapter when 11-5A play gets started on Feb. 1.
"Our goal and expectation is to be back in the playoffs and you always start the year looking to win district," Bruehl said. "That has not changed here despite our record last year."
The Mustangs were ranked the No. 1 team in the nation by some services during the regular season and advanced to the Class 5A Region II tournament.
But those times seem like the distant past for this year's group, who were too young to enjoy that success and who have missed out on the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
That is only part of the motivation as Sachse tries to return to where it feels it belongs as part of the postseason field.
The Mustangs got started against some good competition in the Jesuit-Meinster Tournament last week and should again get some good tests at the Denton Guyer Iron Bridge Classic this week.
They are hoping that will help prepare them for district play, where they had several tight games last year but finished with a 2-6-4 record.
"Our preseason focus is mainly to get guys time on the field in different positions to see where we might gel the best," Sachse head coach Jacob Bruehl said. "We have a deep bench this year and I want to see how I can best utilize this strength with different player combinations."
Sachse has a solid nucleus to build around. Casey Eaton, who is being recruited by several colleges, can play forward or midfield. Gean Paul Figari and Ozem Alvarez bolster the midfield while Connor O'Hayre is back to anchor the defense.
Among the newcomers the Mustangs will be leaning on will be midfielder Damel Hardamon, defender Daniel Santibanez and goalkeeper Cody Stricker.
Many of the Sachse players know the sting of coming up short of the playoffs a year ago. But they know that is the in the past and they look forward to writing a different chapter when 11-5A play gets started on Feb. 1.
"Our goal and expectation is to be back in the playoffs and you always start the year looking to win district," Bruehl said. "That has not changed here despite our record last year."
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