By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Carthage boys soccer program graduated several key contributors — including a prolific scorer — but returns a group eager to embrace new roles and chase an elusive district title.
The Tigers are bringing back six starters from the team that secured the program's 10th straight winning season, finished 16-7 and claimed the Central Ozark Conference West championship.
They hope to become the first team to win a district title since winning eight in a row between 2009 and 2016, an incredible stretch that included three state runner-up finishes.
"Every year we go into the season with the goal of winning our conference and district," Carthage coach Jacob Osborne said. "Last year we were able to win our conference, but we haven't won a district title since we moved back up to the biggest class."
The Tigers have had several strong teams in that time – including last year's group that held opponents to just 1.2 goals per game – but frequently encounter perennial state title contenders in the postseason. That was the case last fall, as a 4-0 loss to eventual third-place finisher Rockhurst extended their title drought.
"We have one of the most challenging districts in the state with Rockhurst who makes (the) Final Four about every season and the Lee's Summit schools," Osborne said. "It's tough, but this year we will have the same goals that we always do."
The goals may stay the same this season, but the Tigers will have different people scoring them.
All-State honoree Aldo Sanchez Cancinos, the team's primary offensive threat, has taken his talents to Crowder College – creating an opportunity for a new striker to emerge.
"Our biggest unanswered questions are what players will step up on the offensive end," Osborne said. "I expect us to have a strong defense, and our midfield rarely ever gets outplayed so the question is who will find the goals. We lost a great goal scorer in Aldo."
Top candidates include senior Luis "Tio" Cordova, a midfielder/forward who earned all-conference honors after an impressive varsity debut.
"Tio is all energy," Osborne said. "He was a varsity newcomer last season, and he quickly turned into one of our top players. He's the type of player that opponents hate playing against because he doesn't ever stop going. He was a double-digit goal scorer for us."
Senior Bagner Barrios, junior Henry Laytham and junior Christ Monzon are also coming off all-conference seasons and will be key contributors on the 2025 squad.
Barrios spent the past two seasons as a defender, but is returning to the midfield this fall.
"That is his true position, but the makeup of the team caused him to make some sacrifices to (play) in the defense where he did a great job," Osborne said. "He will be one of our leaders this season."
Laytham is another midfielder-turned-defender who's become the heart and soul of the team.
"We still will give him opportunities to get into the midfield some, but he is so difficult for opponents to beat," Osborne said. "He will be one of the top players in the area. There will be very few games this season where we play a team that will have a better player."
The Tigers also boast an elite goalkeeper in Monzon.
"Christ will be one of the top keepers in the area," Osborne said. "He has great size, great awareness, he's athletic and he distributes the ball well."
Seniors Ecker Mejiar and Kenny Cifuentes further bolster the team's defense.
Osborne on Mejiar: "Ecker will be an extremely important player for us this season at center back. He's a very steady player who is equally good as a defender as he is with the ball at his feet."
Osborne on Cifuentes: "He is a great midfielder that plays a huge role in our possession game. He is an under the radar player because he doesn't put up big numbers, but he is a super smart player. This season he may see some time as a defensive midfielder and part of that is because of how well he controls the flow of the game."
That control is key to Carthage's game plan.
"We feel like when teams see us on the schedule they know two things about us," Osborne said. "(No.) 1, we will possess the ball a lot – and that will frustrate a lot of teams because it can be hard having to chase for 60 to 70 percent of the time. And (No.) 2, we play extremely hard. When we turn the ball over, we are very quick to apply pressure to try to get it back."
Carthage will lean on rising talent to maintain its identity on the field.
Forward Carlos Alvarez and defender/midfielder/forward Jared Solis both spent their freshman year with the Tigers and are back for their junior season, while sophomores Oscar Lopez Gomez, Jackson Mendez and Kennedy Garcia and freshman Hamilton Solis will be making their varsity debuts.
Osborne on Alvarez: "I've been really impressed with his finishing in summer workouts. He has great striker instincts and he does a great job of creating space in the box to give himself finishing opportunities. I'm excited to see how he looks going against opponents because I think he has potential to be an important offensive player for us."
Osborne on Jared Solis: "He is a really smart player and he can play about anywhere for us. He'll see a lot of time this year."
Osborne on Lopez Gomez: "He was a player that we had high hopes for because we saw lot of potential in him. He has made quite a jump since last season and he will be an important player in our midfield."
Osborne on Mendez: "Jackson was (a) bubble player for us last season so he got a little bit of varsity time. He's ready for the next step this season. He's looked great this summer. He should be an important player for our attack this season."
Osborne on Garcia: "He will be an important defender for us. He has great speed and is very comfortable on the ball. He fit right in with everyone from the first practice."
Osborne on Hamilton Solis: "I've been really impressed with his calmness this summer. He doesn't get rattled and he is a very smart player. Even though he is a freshman, he will get some varsity opportunities this season. I expect him to have a good future with our program."
The Tigers also added several players who decided to play high school soccer this season after spending the previous fall with club teams.
"I'm excited to see how it all comes together," Osborne said. "We lost a good group of seniors, but there is a really talented group of players coming in. I feel like we have a lot (of) depth, so I'm excited to see the players pushing each other trying to earn their time on the field."
The Tigers will host Carl Junction, New Heights and Webb City for an August 25 jamboree, then kick off the regular season when Camdenton visits on August 30.