Marble Falls boys soccer is ranked in top 10 again
The Marble Falls High School boys soccer team begins after-school practices for the 2024 season Monday, Nov. 27.
This year’s team is considered to be among the elite in the state. The Texas Association of Soccer Coaches has the Mustangs ranked No. 4 in the Class 4A poll. Lethal Enforcer, which is the No. 1 source for Texas High School soccer, has the Mustangs ranked No. 11 in the Class 4A poll and No. 4 in the Class 4A Region IV rankings and put them on the organization’s Buzz List.
“Pre-season rankings help us,” head coach Rick Hoover said. “If I’m on the list, the expectations are high. If you’re not on the list, they don’t think you’re good enough to be on it.”
So are the Mustangs the favorite to repeat as the District 24-4A champions? Last year they shared the title with Austin Achieve, which is ranked No. 16 in the state.
“I would say on paper, you’d have to say yes,” Hoover said. “We’re No. 4 in the region, Achieve is No. 5. They’re going to be a huge challenge for us.”
Achieve has many pluses, especially when it comes to confidence. The Polar Bears had an overall record of 16-9-1 and were 9-1 in District 25-4A play with the Mustangs. They lost to eventual state champion Hidalgo 2-1 in the regional semifinals.
Still, the Mustangs have some strengths, too, starting with three seniors who’ve received state recognition. They are Tony Almazan, Garrett Goggans and Seth Parker, All three were named to the all-state team. Goggans also was the district Most Valuable Player. Only three players graduated.
“My current senior class is really, really deep,” Hoover said. “Most of the kids were also on the varsity as freshmen and sophomores when we were in Class 5A. Us moving to 4A has changed things as far as district is concerned.”
To prepare the Mustangs for district play, Hoover has assembled a pre-district schedule that features at least five Class 6A members and five Class 5A members. The non-district schedule includes Austin KIPP and San Antonio Cornerstone. There’s also the possibility of playing a soccer academy that plays soccer year around.
“They’re a high-level team,” Hoover said.
And the program’s mindset is still the same.
“We’re going to be the hunters in preseason, and we’re going to be the underdogs,” the coach said. “I’m not changing that. That’s by design to try to get us ready .”
Fans may call this year’s Marble Falls team the Motivated Mustangs because of the 2-1 loss to Boerne High, the 2021 and 2022 state champions in the third round of the Class 4A playoffs.
“We scored first and they scored two to take the lead,” Hoover said. “Eight of our 11 starters are back. That hasn’t rested well. Hat’s off to Boerne; they did what they needed to do. But that left a bad taste in our mouths. Our kids have had to live with that all year. They’ve had to live with that memory and are on a mission to not let it happen again.”
