FORGING PATH TOHISTORY
Sabino Lozano didn’t know 16 goals and 15 assists were in his future before the season started. He went from an attacking midfielder to center forward up top and never looked back. Dobie became the first Pasadena ISD boys’ soccer team to win the region and make the Class 6A state tournament thanks partly to the senior’s contributions on the field. Lozano reveled in his team making history. “Sabino is the leader on the field,” Dobie coach Justo Manrique said. “Not vocally so much but more in terms that he always wants the ball at his feet. We’re always looking for him. … He’s come out with a mentality of producing now. He wasn’t so concerned in maybe the highlight movement, the dribbling. He was more concerned about getting the ball for somebody to score or scoring himself. I think he’s just turned into an overall great team player and leader on the field.” Q: How did your role on the team change this year? A: “My role kind of changed from being a guy that helps the team keep the ball and scoring a couple to having to score all the goals or most of them. In the past years, I was an important role player and this year I had to put the team on
my back and really give it all for them because I was a senior.”
Q: What is like being the first team in Pasadena ISD history to make a soccer state tournament?
A: “It’s incredible. It’s really just amazing. We left our mark for years to come and we’re the only one as of now. It’s a special feeling that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life, knowing that my team was the first one to go to state.” Q: What was your favorite moment from this season?
A: “When Ramon (Cahue) stopped the (penalty kick) that sent us to state. That was in the regional final. That was probably my favorite moment. A lot of emotion. Yeah, that was my favorite part.”
Q: Did you imagine yourself having this kind of production this season?
A: “I knew I was going into the season strong. I knew that all my preparation from my freshman year, from the summer after my junior year, I knew it was going to be a good year. I imagined it. I wasn’t too sure how it was going to go. But I knew my preparation was definitely going to give me a good year for sure.”
Q: What was the toughest moment this year?
A: “At the end of regular season. That was probably our toughest moment because we had a lot of pressure on keeping a streak going of 45 games unbeaten. It kind of messed with our heads. But at the end of the regular season, everyone came together. We really got on the same page I would say. That was the foundation going into the playoffs strong. That and our loss against North Shore in preseason, 4-1. That was probably one of the hard moments, too. That really pushed us.” Q: What is your plan for college? A: “For the next step, I haven’t decided yet honestly. But I’m for sure looking to play at the next level and then continue from there to one day become a pro. That’s the goal.”
Q: How important is your dream to begin a professional career to you?
A: “I wouldn’t even call it a dream right now. I’d call it a goal. That’s my life goal. It would mean the world to me. That’s what I’ve been fighting for since I was little. There’s a lot of
bridges that you have to cross to get there. But I’m willing to do that and more to make my goal a reality.”
Q: What is the legacy you’re leaving at Dobie?
A: “More than anything, me and my teammates, we left a legacy of ‘If you believe, then anything is possible.’ Personally, I think I gave hope to anybody that if I could do it, then any player at Dobie can do it. Just because you’re from Pasadena — you know, we’re not the highest income area — it doesn’t matter. If you work hard, you can accomplish anything really. I think I can give hope to the young players in our area that you don’t have to be from Sugar Land or Katy. As long as you have a goal and you work for it, you can accomplish anything you want.” Q: What will you miss the most? A: “The team. I’ll miss the team. My friends, my teammates. They’re like family and I’ll miss them and the coaching staff. I’ve been with coach (Manrique) for four years and my senior class for four years and all the other alumni. I think I’ll miss the program in general. “