St. Paul Central going strong into boys soccer postseason

By MATTHEW DAVIS

Even when his team had a 13-0-1 record going into the final week of the boys soccer regular season, St. Paul Central coach David Albornoz didn’t want his team to be satisfied.

“We have done nothing,” Albornoz said. “I try to keep the boys thinking one game at a time. The worst thing we can do right now is to grow arrogant. I still believe we have room for improvement.”

St. Paul Central has shutout eight opponents this fall and captured the St. Paul City Conference outright. The Minutemen rank No. 5 in the Class 2A poll through the last week of September and have a top-five win to their credit. They tied defending state runner-up Stillwater 3-3 in an early-season contest Aug. 25 at the Ponies’ home field.

Albornoz said his team has been consistent all season and has handled the pressure well. The Minutemen have won six games by two goals or less this fall.

“I’d rather win 2-1 or 3-2 struggling or coming from behind than 7-0,” Albornoz said. “I think that reveals the real character of our team.”

Photo right: St. Paul Central’s Jared Garcia maneuvers the ball in a game this season. He helped the Minutemen go unbeaten in St. Paul City Conference play going into their final game of the season against St. Paul Como Park. (Photo courtesy St. Paul Central Boys Soccer)

It didn’t go that way a year ago as St. Paul Central lost five games by two goals or less, including a playoff defeat against Rosemount when the Minutemen had a high seed. Albornoz said injuries played a role in that, which also gave the team an opportunity to improve. He said that resilience had carried over into this season.

Daniel Barrett leads the Minutemen in goals with 13 along with six assists. Mac Staloch has seven goals for second on the team, and he has four assists.

Max Hand leads the team in assists with 11, and he has six goals. Aiden Cavanaugh has three goals and four assists.

Minutemen goalkeeper Owen Brooks has been stellar in net.

Central beat Como Park 4-0 Oct. 3 and won the St. Paul City Conference with an unbeaten record. They’re now 14-0-1.