Panthers have plenty of confidence for upcoming season

The Colleyville Heritage boys soccer team should be a top contender for another playoff run this season and could easily be a favorite to compete for the district title.

Last year’s edition of the Panthers finished second in the district and went to the second round before dropping an overtime thriller to Duncanville.

This year, the Panthers return over 20 seniors. Even a manager and trainer are seniors on the Heritage squad.

That experience, in conjunction with a talented corps of younger players, provides the potential for this year’s squad to excite Panthers fans, including the coach.

“We should be strong. I don’t undersell this team,” said second-year head coach Adam Phillips. “We have a strong group of players, and a majority of the starters are seniors and I’m looking for them to lead us.”

Along with the seniors, Heritage adds in four juniors, two sophomores and a freshman. Even the freshman is very talented, Phillips said.

“Among that many experienced players, he has to be good,” he said of his underclassman.

The early focus for the team prior to their pre-season scrimmages is to try and change the style of play and the formations used from last season.

“We’ll add elements as to how we move the ball around the field,” Phillips said. “Overall, we’re working on possession. We’re not changing the style of play as much as we are enhancing our style of play.”

Returning to help make those enhancements are defensive specialists such as Ryan Jakszta, one of the seniors and a team captain.

“He’s a phenomenal defender,” Phillips said of Jakszta. “The stuff he does on a ball – I can’t describe. He’s conventional and non-conventional.”

At midfield are Mitchell Redfearn, Peter Coplin, Jackson Zeledon (captain) and forward Kevin Salinas.

Juniors Austin Benvegnu and Holden Lyons will also figure into the mix for the Panthers.

“We have so many skilled players that at every position we have four or five guys that are defensively amazing,” said Phillips.

To shore up the defense are two “really stellar” keepers – Josh Clarke and Adam Gaudet.

It goes without saying, the Panthers will be tough to score on. So, how will the goals be scored?

“Jackson (Zeledon) and Kevin (Salinas) will do a lot of it,” said Phillips. “Also, Omri Sharf reminds me a lot of (Lionel) Messi. He’s left-footed and not real big.”

Phillips said he’s fine with winning games 1-0 or 2-0.

“Last year we had a strong offensive team, but we’ll give up less goals this year,” he said.

Heritage will scrimmage on Dec. 30 at home against Irving and will play their alumni game on Jan. 3. They’ll then take on last year’s 4A state champ, Byron Nelson (now in the new 6A), in a scrimmage on Jan. 6 at Nelson.

The Panthers’ first non-district game is in the North Texas Elite Showcase tournament on Jan. 8 vs. Allen.

“I’m very confident,” Phillips concluded, “but we have plenty of improvement to make on the small details which separate good teams from great teams.”

Jan. 27 will be the start of the district schedule with Trinity, but strong programs such as Carroll, Coppell and Richland still await, as well.

This story was originally published December 26, 2014 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Panthers have plenty of confidence for upcoming season."