Following last season’s undefeated run in Region 4-AAAA, the boys soccer team carried that momentum into this year, ending the regular season with a 5-2 region record. The 2025 season ended in the Sweet 16 with a 2-0 loss to Blessed Trinity.
With a 11-6 overall record, senior co-captain Sebastian Velha said the team has a lot of work to reach its goal. He believes the Knights have learned from their mistakes and will continue to improve.
“The best improvement we have had this season is our ability to switch from offense to defense quickly,” Velha said. “When the ball is in transition, moving fast down the field, that is where we struggled at the start of the season, but now we are able to react fast and stop our opponents from catching us off guard. But also, on the other side of the ball, we have gotten really good at pushing the ball from midfield into strong attacking positions.”
Junior Jomar Akum believes if everyone fills their roles, winning will be easier.
“Everyone on the team brings their own energy, but the goal of everyone on the field is the same: finish your chances, bring intensity and help the team win games,” Akum said. “It’s the same for everyone. Here, the only thing that matters is: can you get results when it counts? Not every game is gonna be pretty. The end goal is to win a state championship and to set the standard for years to come. No more, no less.”
Velha noted that making a deep postseason run will require improvement across every part of the field. One key focus moving forward is taking better care of the ball and avoiding rushed decisions. Velha explains that when the team plays at its own pace, they’re able to control the game.
“One thing that will set us apart as we move into the post season is taking advantage of every attacking opportunity we get,” Velha said. “If we value every attack we have, and be as aggressive as possible in front of goal, then we can improve a lot. In soccer, opportunities to score are limited; so it is extremely important that we take advantage of every chance we get.”
In order to live up to their full potential, head coach David Mimmnauh believes it is essential for the team to be mentally tough and avoid injuries. So far this season, six people have suffered from injuries, including key players and captains, such as junior Oliver Bell and seniors Isaac Marlowe and Velha.
”The mental toughness on this team has grown a lot,” Mimmnauh said. “Especially as we are in the middle of the season, it is important that the team continues to play their hardest every single game. Also, we need to be safer and allow players to recover. So far this year, we have had six people injured, so if they can recover that would be a key to our success.”
With so many injuries, the team has relied on underclassmen to step up. Akum said as the team moves into playoffs, it is vital for every player to continue contributing their best.
“Every person on the team brings their own skill set,” Akum said. “But, after a lot of injuries this year, the underclassmen have really stepped up. Max Johnson (sophomore) has done a great job at finishing and scoring goals. And sophomores Ethan Prince and Henry Pollet have both done a great job on the defensive end.”
Mimmnauh thinks the team will stay composed and respond well in high-pressure situations. But above all, he wants the players to enjoy the wins and appreciate every game.
“The most important thing about high school soccer is that it is just a game,” Mimmnauh said. “At the end of the day, it is just a bunch of guys that want to make their team proud and play for the people they represent. So, as much as we want to win and talk about taking home a state title, that can only be done with a team that loves the game.”
