AWC mix of experience, new faces
Matadors open season Thursday
The Arizona Western men’s soccer team is looking to bring out a mix of experience and some new blood for the 2018 season.
The Matadors are returning some vital players off of a 13-5-4 season, but there are some holes that remain unfilled.
AWC will at least be able to start the season with some experience in the midfield with sophomores Alex Avila and Steven Salas to control the game.
Avila will be the team’s leading returning goal scorer with four goals, while Salas played more as a defensive midfielder with 21 appearances.
“Those two guys (are good),” AWC coach Kenny Dale said. “Steven is a little more defensive than Alex. Alex is a little more of an attacking guy.”
Having two center midfielders that he can trust gives Dale the ability to play with lineups around them as they control the game. That’ll be important as the players, who are mostly just getting used to playing with each other, continue to practice.
“We’re still working on players getting an understanding with each other,” Dale said. “We have players from all over the world. They may not even speak the same language, but they all know the language of soccer.”
Heriberto Ruiz will also be back in goal for the Mats. In 2017 he played 19 games in goal with 63 saves and only .85 goals against him per game.
Another returner who is going to see serious playing time is Humberto Morales. Morales played sparingly last season by appearing in only seven games, but Dale says he is improving and will see a lot of time as a