Capsule previews on the metro’s boys teams and players to watch this season

ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY CHARGERS

Coach: Laney Kolek (6th year) Last season: 21-1-1; Class 5A state champions Key players: Alex Touche, sr., C-Mid; Charles Touche, sr., FW; Ryan O’Malia, sr., GK; Nick Williams, jr., D; Aaron Hill, soph., D; Mateo Centenera, fresh., MF/ FW.

Outlook: The Chargers are rated in the top 10 in the country in the preseason in at least one poll as they set out to repeat in 5A. The Touche brothers are fantastic in every way, and, like La Cueva’s Jake Sanchez, on a preseason All-American Game watch list. O’Malia will miss the start of the season with an ankle injury but is expected back after the season-opening, two-week metro event. He couuld return for Academy’s tournament later in September. This team lost a dozen seniors and has five starters returning. Williams, plus both Touche brothers, were first-team AllState selections last season.

ALBUQUERQUE HIGH BULLDOGS

Coach: Lucien Starzynski (13th year) Last season: 16-4-1; Class 6A state champions

Key players: Carlos Gutierrez, jr., FW; Angel Madera, sr., MF; Luca Seazzu, jr., MF; Allan Marquez, sr., FW/MF; Eric Olaguir, jr., FW; Scott Ryan, jr., D.

Outlook: Starzynski has built a tremendous program, although this season will put that notion to the test since a majority of the starters — many of them vital in the school’s first blue trophy run last November — have departed. The Bulldogs have had to rebuild the entire back line, which was the team’s primary strength in 2015, and they’ll be new in goal. Madera is a four-year starter and a key piece of the puzzle for the Bulldogs.

ATRISCO HERITAGE ACADEMY JAGUARS

Coach: Micah Newman (5th year)

Last season: 14-6-1; lost to Albuquerque High in 6A championship game

Key players: David Armendariz, jr., MF; Luis Calderon, sr., MF; Victor Hernandez, sr., D/MF; Victor Flores, sr., FW/MF; Javier Rubio, soph., FW; Oskar Paredes, sr., GK.

Outlook: The Jags did graduate nine seniors, but there is a strong sense from other 6A metro coaches that Atrisco is at least the equal of Albuquerque High in District 4 this year. Newman describes this team as inexperienced, but not young. The Jaguars figure to be solid in the midfield and on defense, but they lost some goal scorers and that is an area to watch as the season develops. “If we can put the ball in the back of the net,” he said, “we’ll have a really good season.”

BELEN EAGLES

Coach: Jose Duran (1st year) Last season: 1-17-1 Key players: Adan Rodriguez, jr., GK; Ricardo Aguilar, sr., FW; Ethan Trujillo, fresh., D; Armando Varlea, fresh., D; Eli Baca, fresh., MF/FW.

Outlook: The Eagles have been in the doldrums since making back-to-back appearances in the state championship game in 2010 and 2011. Duran says he hopes to turn that around with a team loaded with experienced and enthusiastic underclassmen.

BERNALILLO SPARTANS

Coach: Anthony Jaramillo (3rd year) Last season: 7-9-1 Key players: Victor Noel Martinez, sr., FW; Sean Evanko, jr., MF: Daniel Gutierrez, jr., D; Jose Aguilar, jr., GK; Kevin Silva, fresh., MF. Outlook: This will be a relatively young group, filled with plenty of sophomores who will have to plug in some holes for the Spartans. Martinez is the team’s top offensive player, but Bernalillo must find a way to get the ball on his foot. He was the team’s second-leading scorer last year. The Spartans hope to make a run at the postseason this year, Jaramillo said.

BOSQUE SCHOOL BOBCATS

Coach: Jason Cloyes (1st year)

Last season: 16-3-3; Class 1A-4A state champions

Key players: Josh Sanchez, sr., MF; Zech Meddleton, sr., MF/FW; Travis James, sr., D/MF; Peter Panagopolous, sr., D; Jerry McKinney, sr., GK; Cooper Tezak, sr., D.

Outlook: The big change for the Bobcats is Cloyes, who takes over the program from the now-retired Klaus Weber. Only three starters return for Bosque, but it hopes Tezak will be healthy after missing most of last season with an injury. The team’s three center mids — Meddleton, Sanchez and James — will be carrying a heavy load for the Bobcats as they seek to repeat.

CIBOLA COUGARS

Coach: Michael Clarke (interim)

Last season: 13-6-1; lost to La Cueva in 6A quarterfinals

Key players: Benjamin Rogers, sr., FW; Matt Berlint, sr., FW; Chance Ford, jr., MF; Shea Cosper, jr., D; Dustin Michalk, jr., D.

Outlook: Clarke was coaching Eldorado’s girls JV when his older brother, Cameron, asked him to take over the program this season as Cameron continues to rehab neck and back injuries in a Denver hospital. Michael Clarke has had only a limited amount of time with the Cougars, so they will be a mystery team, perhaps all the way through the season.

CLEVELAND STORM

Coach: Shaun Gill (9th year) Last season: 9-7-5; lost to Hobbs in 6A first round

Key players: Dylan Casey, sr., D; Korbin Krupiak, sr., FW; James Uhrich, sr., FW; Dylan Sandoval, sr., MF; Dominic Valenzuela, sr., GK; Marshall Stribling, jr., MF.

Outlook: Here is a team many coaches believe might break out in 2016. This group has speed up top and on the wings, plus a solidified defense, Gill said, and one of the state’s top ’keepers in Valenzuela. An early metro tournament matchup with La Cueva should be a litmus test. And later, the Storm will have to endure a tough district schedule. This has the potential to be the school’s best-ever boys squad.

DEL NORTE KNIGHTS

Coach: Daniel Mora (4th year) Last season: 1-16-1 Key players: Nathaniel Rubio, jr., D; Gabriel Maldonado, fresh., MF; Jared Long, soph., D; Omar Moreno, sr., FW.

Outlook: The Knights can only go up from last season. The young team is hungry and ambitious to play better in 2016. However, the task of earning a few more wins will be difficult in a district that features Albuquerque Academy (defending 5A state champion) and Los Alamos (state runner-up).

EAST MOUNTAIN TIMBERWOLVES

Coach: Frank Trusiano (3rd year) Last season: 7-11-2 Key players: Ethan Wagner, sr., MF; Anthony McKenna, sr., GK; Noah Gildersleeve, jr., D; J.J. Porter, jr., FW/MF; Parker Randall, jr., D.

Outlook: With a good freshman class, the Timberwolves’ best days might still be ahead. But if they can play better team defense, East Mountain’s shortterm goal this year is to get at least a district victory and then shoot for a playoff spot.

ELDORADO EAGLES

Coach: Tom Hirschman (3rd year) Last season: 12-7; lost to Cibola in 6A first round

Key players: Mike Sprauer, sr., MF; Garrett Clark, sr., D; Terry Zamora, sr., MF; A.J. Lewis, jr., MF; Josh Rodriguez, sr., D; Ben Martinez, sr., FW.

Outlook: This is potentially a rebuilding season for the burnt orange, who have only three starters returning. The back line is a work in progress for Eldorado, which will be athletic if not necessarily experienced. Martinez is expected to provide the scoring spark up top. This might be a team to watch in the second half of the season, not so much the first half.

HIGHLAND HORNETS

Coach: Scott Simpson (2nd year) Last season: 2-16 Key players: Duncan Okumu, sr., D; Giovanny Vidaña, jr., MF; Joaquín Ituarte, jr., FW; Kevin Nuñez, fresh., MF. Outlook: Although the Hornets are in a rebuilding phase, a strong, motivated group of freshmen and sophomores has created a buzz of optimism for the future of Highland soccer.

HOPE CHRISTIAN HUSKIES

Coach: Steve Kokulis (5th year)

Last season: 13-8-1; lost to Sandia Prep in 1A-4A quarterfinals

Key players: Edward Oropesa, jr., MF; Kevin Sanchez, jr., FW; Steven Lee, soph., MF; Daniel Letourneau, soph., MF; Jacob Whisonant, sr., D; Dylan Werner, jr., D.

Outlook: This is one of the metro’s youngest sides, with just one senior (Whisonant), but the Huskies believe they’re strong through the middle and on the defense. Hope Christian needs to identify goal scorers if it hopes to make a deeper playoff run in November. Hope is in a new district this year, which is good news; no more Bosque or Sandia Prep as league rivals. Depth could be a potential issue.

LA CUEVA BEARS

Coach: Easy Jimenez (2nd year) Last season: 16-3-1; lost to Atrisco Heritage in 6A semifinals Key players: Jake Sanchez, sr., D; Joseph Keller, jr., FW; Chris Manning, jr., MF; Anthony Muñoz, jr., GK; Adam Salinger-Mullen, sr., D; Ryan Moedl, sr., MF.

Outlook: The Bears lost several crucial players to graduation; Muñoz in net, plus Keller (a Bosque transfer who had to play on the JV last season) at forward, will need to step in and become full-time forces for La Cueva. Sanchez is the backbone on the back line for the Bears, with Salinger-Mullen lined up right in front of Sanchez. Manning will be the facilitator from the center-mid position. Nearly everyone expects La Cueva to make a deep postseason run in November.

LOS LUNAS TIGERS

Coach: Daniel Martinez (4th year) Last season: 12-9; lost to St. Pius in 5A first round

Key players: Yain Rodriguez, sr., MF/D; Diego Flores, jr., FW/MF; Daniel Perez, sr., GK; Israel Resendiz, sr., FW/ MF; Tomas Ruiz, sr., FW/MF/D.

Outlook: The Tigers bring an upperclassmen-heavy team into 2016 with an astounding nine juniors on the field after graduating no one from their 2015 squad. This group will be hungry to make its mark after a pair of early exits in the last two seasons, said Martinez.

MANZANO MONARCHS

Coach: Jerry Duran (2nd year) Last season: 4-14 Key players: David Hernandez, jr., MF; Josh Hernandez, sr., D; Julian Martinez, sr., D.; Josh Soliz, sr., D.; Armando Bencomo, sr., MF; James Sandoval, soph., D. Outlook: The Monarchs graduated nine seniors, but have eight 12th-graders in the fold this season, and Duran said the underclassmen will need to provide the depth. “This season we are looking to build on the progress we made last year,” Duran said, whose club still must endure a brutal district, which now includes a fairly solid Clovis program.

MORIARTY PINTOS

Coach: Jordan Allcorn (7th year) Last season: 11-8-1 Key players: Wyatt Jones, jr., D; Gerardo Arguello, sr., MF; Charlie Armijo, sr., D; Pavel Arguello, fresh., FW; Lucas Shirley, jr., FW.

Outlook: It’s reasonable to think the Pintos, who moved to Class 4A from 5A, have a shot at winning a district title — or at least being more competitive, as Moriarty has split its six games with new district rival Hope Christian over the last six years and defeated Portales in 2015. The Pintos did graduate quite a few seniors and will now depend on talented junior and freshmen classes.

RIO GRANDE RAVENS

Coach: Michael Liptay (1st year) Last season: 3-15 Key players: Jorge Reyes, soph., GK; Javier Castañeda, jr., MF; Jason Castro, jr., MF; Fabian Gonzalez, jr., D; Adrian Madera, sr., D; Bryan Alcala, jr., FW/MF.

Outlook: Liptay is off to a late start, having just taken over the program a couple weeks ago. But the players ready to start the season have “an incredible passion for the sport.” The Ravens should be an aggressive team when possible, but Rio Grande has some depth issues, at least to start the season.

RIO RANCHO RAMS

Coach: John Shepard (15th year) Last season: 15-5-2; lost to Albuquerque High in 6A semifinals Key players: Chris Leyba, sr., utility; Cameron Trujillo, sr., MF; Kevin Aguilar, sr., MF; Joseph De Los Santos, sr., D; Caesar Charrette, sr., D; Justin Farello, sr., MF.

Outlook: The Rams have seven starters back off a team that was Final Four material last November, although they are new in net with junior Garrett Velasquez this fall. Can Rio Rancho’s new faces blend well with the veterans? This is the question that occupies Shepard as the season begins. Farello was a second-team All-State choice last season and led the Rams in scoring.

SANDIA MATADORS

Coach: Brian Weems (5th year)

Last season: 11-7-2; lost to Albuquerque High in 6A quarterfinals

Key players: Garrett Palacios, sr., GK; Clint Smith, sr., D; Patrick Welch, sr., D; Shamach Broussard, sr., MF/FW; Nathan Valles., sr., MF/FW; Victor Gallardo, sr., MF/FW.

Outlook: Sandia should have a fast, dynamic, experienced group (with nine starters back), with Broussard a potential breakout talent for the Matadors. Palacios is all-state caliber between the posts, and Smith was a secondteam all-stater on defense for Sandia. Weems said Sandia must be better at finishing scoring opportunities.

SANDIA PREP SUNDEVILS

Coach: Tommy Smith (19th year)

Last season: 12-8-2; lost to Bosque School in 1A-4A semifinals

Key players: Dean Roberts, sr., FW; Lucas Sandoval, soph., MF; Josh Harling, jr., MF; Cole Hanrahan, jr., FW; David Atkin, sr., D.

Outlook: The Sundevils are taking a new approach, with more of a blue-collar feel than usual. Losing Skylor Rose (Colorado Rapids Academy) is a huge scoring setback for Sandia Prep, which, other than the aforementioned five players, lacks serious varsity experience. It’s a big team that should be strong on the back line (led by Atkin), but the Sundevils need to locate goal scorers.

ST. PIUS SARTANS

Coach: A.J. Herrera (2nd year)

Last season: 12-7-3; lost to Los Alamos in 5A quarterfinals

Key players: Jaren Rodriguez, soph., D/MF; Julian Garcia, jr., FW; Andres Torres, sr., FW; Seth Matteucci, soph., FW; Christian Monsalve, soph., D; Alex Nana, jr., MF.

Outlook: The Sartans, on paper, look young, but that’s misleading, as their nine starters just happen to include an overload of underclassmen. In fact, this team has eight sophomores, many of whom logged significant minutes last season. Rodriguez, Garcia and Torres were all first-team all-district selections last year for St. Pius, which intends to push rival Academy once the season reaches the playoffs.

VALENCIA JAGUARS

Coach: Eric Gutierrez (6th year)

Last season: 14-6-2; lost to Roswell in 5A quarterfinals

Key players: Jose Aguilar, jr., GK; Luis Negrete, jr., MF/FW; Aaron Hernandez, sr., MF/D; Adam Aragon, jr., MF/D.

Outlook: The Jaguars graduated five from last year’s squad that narrowly missed reaching the 5A Final Four and will need to find scoring. Valencia should be solid, however, on defense with Aguilar between the posts.

VALLEY VIKINGS

Coach: Tyler Linn (2nd year) Last season: 9-8-1 Key players: Johnny Baros, soph., FW; Miguel Ramirez, jr., MF; Diego Tena, sr., D; Oswaldo Medina, soph., MF; Jose Marrufo, jr., MF; Luis Guerrero, jr., FW.

Outlook: Five of Valley’s eight losses last season came to the two 6A state finalists, AHS and Atrisco Heritage. The Vikings bring back nine starters from that team, including a good number of attacking players, Linn said. Tena must be the defensive anchor for Valley, a team that is not built on physicality. The Vikes want to grind out possessions on the ground and make their hay that way.

VOLCANO VISTA HAWKS

Coach: Billy Thiebaut (9th year) Last season: 8-8-2 Key players: Larsen Rogers, jr., MF; Isai Rivas, soph., MF; Andres Jurado, sr., D; Zach Lemasters, jr., FW; Stevie Pina, sr., FW; Tyler Cole, sr., MF.

Outlook: The Hawks were supposed to get standout transfer Skylor Rose from Sandia Prep, but Rose has bolted instead for the Colorado Rapids Academy. Still, Volcano Vista, with nine starters returning, should be back in the playoff mix this season after a rare postseason miss in 2015. Rogers and Rivas will be key playmakers this season. The Hawks haven’t settled on a starting goalkeeper yet, however.

WEST MESA MUSTANGS

Coach: Jorge Serrano (3rd year) Last season: 6-10-2 Key players: Edgar Ruiz, sr., GK; Andres Ituarte, sr., MF/FW; Andy Chavez, jr., MF; Jason Gomez, jr., MF; Aaron Mendoza, jr., MF; Augustin Paulino, soph., D.

Outlook: The Mustangs have nine starters back as they hope to make a dent in a district that has been dominated by Albuquerque High and Atrisco Heritage. Team chemistry is a definite plus for West Mesa, which will mount its attacks from the back and try to be clean in the midfield to help that system along.