HS: MAST features seven ranked teams
Although soccer is not a sport driven by numbers, the win-loss records compiled by participants in the 2016 Montverde Academy Soccer Tournament are simply mind blowing.
MAST officials confirmed the eight-team field Friday for this school year’s event, and those squads were a combined 167-17-16 last year en route to a national title and four state championships.
The MAST will be held Jan. 14-16 on the Montverde Academy campus.
Host Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) is riding a 117-match undefeated streak entering the 2015-16 season. Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), Gulliver Prep (Miami, Fla.), Cathedral (Los Angeles, Calif.) and St. Paul's (Covington, La.) are coming off state title-winning seasons. Sam Houston (Arlington, Texas) was a Texas 5A state semifinalist. Perennial Florida title contenders Melbourne (Melbourne, Fla.) and Tampa Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) round out what is the strongest field ever for the three-day showcase.
Seven of the eight teams are ranked in the SIMA FAB 50 preseason rankings: No. 1 Montverde Academy, No. 2 Sam Houston, No. 7 Cathedral, No. 12 Gulliver Prep, No. 24 St. Paul’s, No. 33 Tampa Jesuit and No. 35 Melbourne.
The MAST has grown to be one of the most important winter high school events on the calendar. In fact, the multi-state event directly has led to the crowning of the last three SIMA FAB 50 national champions -- which has been Montverde Academy each time.
Below are team-by-team preseason capsules for the 2016 MAST:
CHANDLER (Chandler, Ariz.)
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: NR | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: 13
Coach: Sasha Hunter, 5th season (53-17-3)
2014-15 Record: 17-1-3 [Division I state champion]
Returning Starters: 2
Key Players: M Elton Loza. Jr. (3 goals, 6 assists in 2014-15); M Keyvan Cortes (2 assists); GK Cesar Castro, Sr. (.82 GAA); F/M Daniel Corona, So. (9 goals, 4 assists).
GULLIVER PREP (Miami, Fla.)
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: 12 | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: 8
Coach: Matias Asorey, 7th season (102-8-8)
2014-15 Record: 18-2 [Class 2A state champion]
Returning Starters: 1
Key Players: GK Gabriel Meler, Jr.; D Santigo Burgos, Jr.; M Cesar Roman, Sr.; F Lucas Massolo, So.; Truman Gelnovatch, So.
CATHEDRAL (Los Angeles, Calif.)
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: 7 | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: 7
Coach: Art and Sal Lopez
2014-15 Record: 26-2-4 [CIF-SS Division III champion; SCR champion]
Returning Starters: 5
Key Players: M/F Max Valdivia, Sr.; M/D Edwin Vasquez, Sr.; F/M Luis Campos, Sr. (11 goals, 5 assists in 2014-15), F/M Manuel Garcia, Jr. (5 assists in 2015 playoffs), D/M Michael Flota, Jr.; M Irving Arvizu, Jr.; GK Derrick Gracia, Jr.
MELBOURNE (Melbourne, Fla.)
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: 35 | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: NR
Coach: Jerry McCabe, 28 years (538-119-59)
2014-15 Record: 18-6-2 [Region finalist]
Returning Starters: 6
Key Players: D Owen Tworkowski, Sr. (9 goals, 12 assists in 2014-15); M Duwan Eguez, Sr.; D Zach Harrison, Sr.; D Kevin Corbeel, Jr.; D Kyle Ferguson, So.; F Austyn Brinkley, Sr. (12 goals, 9 assists); D Cole Smith, Jr.; M Giovanni Ottomanelli, Sr. (10 goals, 6 assists).
MONTVERDE ACADEMY
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: 1 | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: 1
Coach: Mike Potempa, 6th season (110-0-7)
2014-15 Record: 21-0 [SIMA FAB 50 national champion]
Returning Starters: 3
Key Players: M Bruno Lapa, Sr.; M Esteban Calvo, Sr.; D Justin Malo, Jr.; F Kizza Edward, Jr.; F Biska Biyombo, Sr.; M Leonardo Novaes, Sr.; M Caua Soares, Jr.; D Max Friederich, Jr.; GK Chase Vosvick, Jr.
ST. PAUL'S (Covington, La.)
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: 24 | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: 9
Coach: Sean Moser, 7th season (167-15-7)
2014-15 Record: 30-0-3 [Louisiana Division I state champion]
Returning Starters: 3
Key Players: Colin Ross, Sr.; Michael Boudreaux, Sr.; Austin Wiles, Sr.
SAM HOUSTON (Arlington, Texas)
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: 2 | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: 4
Coach: Joey Rodriguez, 8th season (101-29-23)
2014-15 Record: 23-3-2 (Texas 5A state semifinalist]
Returning Starters: 7
Key Players: D Eddy Rodriguez, Sr.; M Luis Rodriguez, Sr. (5 goals, 9 assists); GK Rene Benitez, Sr. [0.82 GAA]; D Salvador Fernandez, Sr.; M Angel Ramirez, So.
TAMPA JESUIT (Tampa, Fla.)
2015-16 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Preseason Rank: 33 | 2014-15 SIMA Winter FAB 50 Final Rank: NR
Coach: Eric Sims, 3rd year (37-8-5)
2014-15 Record: 22-3-2
Returning Starters: 7
Key Players: M Connar Lufkin, Sr. (17 goals, 10 assists in 2014-15); M Trevor Brown, Sr.; D Noah Kurtz, Sr. (3 goals).
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