Boys Soccer Captures 5-6A Title On Senior Night

by

On Tuesday, the Carroll ISD boys soccer team (18-1, 11-0) celebrated not one, not two but three wins: Senior Night, their coach’s 200th career win and clinching the District 5-6A title. 

“Our coaching staff with Coach Chris Padilla, Doug Tekell and Aaron Lineweaver were excited for our players,” head coach Aaron Cottrell says. “This team is so focused that this was a nice moment to enjoy reaching their goal with their teammates. This team and especially this Senior class love each other and it is apparent in how they play. When you care that much about something, great things will happen.”

This is the second consecutive District 5-6A title for the boys soccer team and it was also their 18th consecutive win.

“This team is all business,” Cottrell says. “We have achieved the first goal for our season but have been training for the long term. Our boys are focused on more and have the mindset to make a deep run in the playoffs.”

Winning 8-0 against Keller Fossil Ridge, all the goals were made by senior players and the Varsity Man of the Match was Griffin Massey, who scored the seventh goal — and his first on the season — for the Dragons.

Seven players were responsible for the eight goals: Matthew Hern, who scored twice, Robbie Pino, Jackson Clay, Rory Skains, Ryan Westerburg, Griffin Massey and Kyle Reynolds. Eric Jorgensen had the most assists with three, followed by Karson Pannell, Corbin Duwe, Jack Mooney and Robbie Pino who each had one. 

Coach Cottrell also recorded his 200th career win on Tuesday night, a feat he says doesn’t care much about. 

“I’m just grateful to be here at Carroll and to be coaching such a great group of young men,” Cottrell says. “Head down, keep working.”

Looking ahead, the Dragons play four games in the regular season before playoffs begin, the next on March 6 at 7:30 p.m. against Keller Central. 

“Everything in training is based on sharpening and adding another dimension to our system of play for the playoffs,” Cottrell says. “There are also a few goals our team has set as we close out District play. Our defense has allowed only one goal in the 11 district games and scored 48. We have 13 shutouts so far this season and our Defensive Captains have set goals to go for 17 before we begin playoffs.”