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Losing superstar forward Robbie Pino, who put up jaw-dropping stats before graduating in 2020 and signing with the University of Chicago, the Carroll boys soccer team was devoid of an offensive superstar this season. But players stepped up to provide a spark, giving the Dragons a balanced offensive attack.
Senior Patricio Sanchez led Carroll in scoring with 12 goals, adding six assists for a team high 30 points. Senior Drake Ferri was second in goals scored and total points. Midfielder Michael Grimm, a senior signed with Southwestern University in Georgetown, was the team leader in assists and tied for third in total points with 18. Junior Jack Myer, a captain this season, also tallied 18 points and is expected to be a team leader next year.
“Overall, each game we got more unified,” says Carroll boys soccer coach Aaron Cottrell. “I think that was our strength this year because we didn’t have that dominant player, complete stud, and so we were forced to play together. And we’ve got a lot of unselfish players with not a whole lot of experience that really contributed.”
SEASON RECAP
Bad timing led to a series of unfortunate events for the Dragons soccer team. But watching the Carroll boys team come together made Dragons coach Aaron Cottrell proud.
Carroll (14-4-1) finished the season ranked seventh in the state in Class 6A by MaxPreps, but it wasn’t a pretty start. Set back by key injuries and missing players out for Christmas vacation, the Dragons lost their first two contests.
“The two years prior to that, we only lost two games total, so starting off 0-2, we were kind of like, ‘OK, let’s see if we can get this back on track and reunite,’” Cottrell says.
After an early district loss to Keller, Carroll won 10 in a row and finished second in District 4-6A behind Keller (ranked No. 4 in the state). The Dragons handily won their bi-district playoff match with Trinity, 5-0. But participation by players in the Dallas Cup the two days prior likely contributed to Cottrell’s team losing steam. The Dragons led 1-0 at the half before collapsing in the second half and losing 4-1.
“Really, I think we were the most improved team in the area from the first of the season toward the end,” Cottrell says.