Sports
BHS boys soccer to compete for another District championship
Monday, 14 January 2013 by David Tuma
Belton’s Angel Hernandez goes for the ball in a game last season. The Tigers are expected to contend for another District championship.Belton's boys soccer team has dominated district with five district championships in six seasons. It comes as no surprise that the Tigers are expected to compete with Midway for the district title in 2013.
Up front at forward the Tigers will move Timothy Williams and Angel Hernandez both of which played midfield last season. The pair have been playing on varsity for several years and they know each other. Also featured up front will be Tigers quarterback Peter Shelburne who has joined the team.
The midfield will feature some good ball strikers with Cesar Cruz and Lucas Das Merces. Cruz was dynamic in the later part of last season as a sophomore. Das Merces grew up in Brazil and is very, very talented. The pair will play on the outside of the midfield. Jose Guzman will start in the middle and he has great speed along with Keegan Valentino and Nick Amato. Both Valentino and Amato played on varsity last season and saw extensive action.
Belton's depth allows them to move to vital midfield players to forward. Ryan Parker will play on defense and in the midfield. Amato, Parker and Valentino saw action last season as sophomores and in the playoffs.
Cory Entrop will play defense and midfield. Brandon Coulter grew up in Germany and has excellent ball skills and will play in the midfield.
On defense the Tigers will feature Erik Rodriguez on the left with Thomas Shelburne, Joshua Reynolds, Mason Hufstetler, Cody Bartek and Scott Carnley filling out the starting lineup. The defense will take some time to figure out the starters. Bartek and Reynolds saw time on varsity last year.
Brandon McGibeny will see time at goalie along with four year starter Carlo Mosnia. At times Mosnia will be moved out of the goal and play forward.
The Tigers have 12 seniors this season and only three sophomores. Those numbers of older players are crucial in the playoffs with the huge metro schools featuring 15-20 seniors on varsity. "Our goal is to have an all senior team. We are getting closer. This year's team has worked very hard. We have a lot of new players and it will takes some time. They want to win. We just need a game to see where we stand at this point. Our strength is the midfield where we are very good," said Tigers head coach Cizo Mosnia.
Midway is very solid in district with Harker Heights expected to be very competitive. Temple and Killeen Ellison are expected to compete for the fourth playoff spot. "Harker Heights is dangerous and they will be very good this year. We are a finesse team and I am not sure how physical we will be this season," said Mosnia.
The Tigers will play a brutal non-district schedule starting with the Dallas Jesuit tournament. They will also play top programs Kingwood, Anderson, Conroe and Westwood in tournaments in Georgetown and Round Rock.
District play begins January 29 with the Tigers hosting Midway and then traveling to Harker Heights. Just a tough draw having to play their two top competitors in back-to-back games.
