Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Balderas drives Mounties’ attack
ROGERS — Rogers High senior Alex Balderas doesn’t lead his team in goals scored, but he’s a huge reason why the Mounties are able to put the ball into net and a driving force that’s led the Mounties to their first state finals appearance.
“He distributes,” Rogers boys soccer coach Stephen Peck said. “He makes things happen. He’s our creative force. Just having him out on the field means a lot. Everybody has to be on top of their game, because if you’re open, he’s going to get the ball to you. You’ve got to be constantly ready.
“He has vision to get the ball to Jessie or Horacio or Nelson, it’s amazing. Alex’s decision-making is top-notch for sure.”
The center midfielder and captain leads the Mounties (16-5) with 16 assists —double the total of the next closest teammate — to go with eight goals.
Rogers High has made six state semifinal appearances, but this will be its inaugural berth in the finals. The Mounties will face a familiar opponent in 7A-West Conference rival Springdale Har-Ber (18-3) in today’s 10 a.m. final at Razorback Field in Fayetteville.
The 5-foot-8, 145-pound Balderas won’t be confused for the biggest or strongest on the field, but Peck said he’s become a much more physical player this season.
“He’s really taken on the captain’s band,” Peck said. “Last year, he was easily pushed off the ball at times. If you got physical with him, he’s almost disappear. This year, no way. He returned the physicality. He’s a little bigger and stronger, but most if it was between his ears.
“I challenged him this year and he’s met that challenge. He’s a general out on the field. He determines where the ball’s going to end up for us.”
Both Peck and his teammates agree Balderas has been an example both on and off the field for the Mounties this season.
“He talks to us constantly, before games and during the game,” teammate Horacio Olivera said. “I felt like he’s not just playing for himself. He’s
playing for all of us.
‘If Alex isn’t doing good, we’re not doing good. We all look up to him and he keeps us going.”
Even Balderas acknowledged the added responsiblity of being a team leader as a senior is big.
“As a senior, I want to be more of an example at school and on the field,” Balderas said. “Now everyone’s looking to me and I have to keep my head up, so they will their head up even if we are losing.”
The chemistry between Olivera and Balderas in the midfield is another key to the Mounties’ success this season, Peck said.
“The chemistry is undeniably magic honestly,” Peck added.
Rogers finished second in the league to Har-Ber and lost both regular-season meetings to the Wildcats. But Balderas said the Mounties won’t settle for just being the first team to play in the finals. They want more.
“We set a goal to get closer as a team,” Balderas said. “We were watching other teams being close and winning. We have all just played for each other. Being the first Rogers team in the finals was our drive to get to it. I feel like getting into it, that’s going to be our drive to win it.
“These last two games in the playoffs have been the most heart-played. We put everything we’ve got into the game like it’s our last. That’s exactly how we have to play the finals.”