Manitou Springs boys soccer coach Ben Mack loves a good challenge. And when he looks at this year’s team, he sees a challenge ahead of him — but that’s what will make the upcoming season so exciting.
The Mustangs are a junior-heavy team coming into the 2022 fall season, but Mack and the players still have high expectations for what they can accomplish.
“The goal is always the playoffs,” Mack said. “If we can make the playoffs, that would be great. That’s the goal every year.
“I know we have some tough teams. Atlas is tough, James Irwin is tough. We’d love to win a conference championship, that’s a goal as well. We’re still trying to figure out how realistic some of those goals are.”
What helps in figuring that out is that Evan Yount is a year older and will embrace more of a leadership role this season. He was second on the team last year, with seven goals scored, and led the Mustangs with eight assists.
Mack will certainly lean on him when games begin this week, but Yount also knows that he will play an important role in the Mustangs success this season. And he knows that his teammates will have to take on bigger roles than they were used to a year ago.
“We have guys that need to step into key roles,” Yount said. “I think they’re fully capable of it and we’re looking at playing at a high level this year.”
The Mustangs missed out on the postseason last year, a year after winning their first Tri-Peaks championship. Luke Donegan will take on the role of a senior leader this season and Deric French will provide a new face at goalie for the season.
This team has a mix of experience from a large junior class and youth, considering the roster has just one senior. Reaching the postseason is the ultimate goal and, with the group Mack has in front of him, it will be fun to coach them up and push them to reach that goal.
“I like challenges, period,” Mack said.
“Some years are more challenging than others, but I love having a young team. You get the chance to work with them. You have players coming in knowing that they’re going to make up the core for two or three years, which is nice.”
The Mustangs start the season hosting Dolores Huerta in a non-league game on Thursday, Aug. 25, and then head to Gunnison on Saturday.
Manitou Springs boys soccer
Head coach: Ben Mack
2021-22 Record: 4-11 (0-6 Tri-Peaks)
Key Returners: Austin Courson (junior),
Luke Donegan (senior), Evan Yount (junior)
First contest: Aug. 25 vs. Dolores Huerta