A puzzle’s frame alone, however, doesn’t create the desired result. It takes all the pieces in the middle - the ones that lack a flat side and can fit in just about anywhere - to paint a picture.
That’s the reason Belton boys soccer coach Tarcisio Mosnia says, “in many ways, midfielders are the most important players on the field.”
Anchored in the heart of the pitch by a rotation of eight steady midfielders, Class 5A No. 3-ranked Belton (26-1) will clash with No. 4 Garland Sachse (25-1-2) at 7 p.m. today in a Region II quarterfinal at Waco ISD Stadium.
The winner will advance to Friday’s semifinal of the regional tournament. And for the Tigers to get there, they will need another all-around sterling performance from their midfielders.
“It’s tough to play in the midfield because there is traffic around you all of the time,” said Mosnia, whose midfielders are a key reason Belton has scored 125 goals while giving up just 20. “They have to make quick decisions.
“It’s not like playing in the back where you can see everything. There’s people coming at you from the front and from the back. Those are your players that are technically sound.”
Asked to lend support on an offensive rush, then hurry back to stem an opponent’s counterattack, midfielders must have the stamina to battle on both ends of the field.
But even though it has been estimated that midfielders will run six miles or more during the course of a match, two members of the Tigers’ unit say it’s dealing with all of the traffic that is most difficult.
“You always have to know where you are on the field and where everybody else is,” sophomore Tayron Martin said. “You can’t lose track of anybody or the ball.”
Added junior Brandon Maldonado: “You have to know what you’re going to do with the ball before you ever get it. You have to stay one step ahead of everyone else.”
Because he must be physical enough to tackle and agile enough to dribble through traffic, there aren’t many qualities a midfielder doesn’t need.
“You always want speed, if you can help it,” Mosnia said. “The skill is very important and the intelligence to be able to make quick decisions. If the kid is big, that would be fantastic but he doesn’t have to be.”
Tonight’s primary job for Martin, Maldonado and the rest of Belton’s midfielders - Nick Palamara, Tyler Pate, Evan McLaughlin, Cody Kite, Garret Patterson and Michael Shepherd - will be slowing down Sachse attackers Donovann Castro and Junior Gonzales, and getting the ball to Tigers forwards Josh Caffey and Vincent Crepeau.
Castro and Gonzales have 17 goals apiece to lead the Mustangs, who have scored 69 and surrendered just 11. Caffey’s 36 goals and Crepeau’s 32 lead the Tigers.
Sachse - ranked No. 11 nationally in the ESPN RISE Fab 50 poll, six spots behind Belton - reached the regional quarterfinals with victories of 2-1 over Richardson Lake Highlands and 4-0 against Tyler John Tyler.
Belton eliminated North Mesquite 7-0, then won 3-0 over Garland Rowlett - which handed the Mustangs their only loss of the season during District 10-5A play and tied them in their other meeting.
Mosnia, however, doesn’t give much weight to past results or rankings.
“The kids keep gaining confidence,” he said, “and I don’t think we’re very worried about who we play right now because we feel like we can play with everybody.
“We’re enjoying the ranking simply because it’s there. It’s good for people to look at and for bragging rights. Rankings, though, don’t make you a great team unless you can prove it in the end.”
Belton is in the regional quarterfinals for the third time in four years, trying to earn its second regional tournament berth in program history and first since the 1999 team advanced to the 4A state tournament.
“I’m sure that there’s some pressure (on the players to keep advancing), and that’s good. It makes them play better, and they seem to be handling it well,” Mosnia said before adding with a laugh, “In fact, they handle it so well that sometimes it makes me wonder if they’re ready.”
Notes: Belton has an all-time postseason record of 14-13. . . . The Tigers should be bolstered by the return of senior Cade Carlson, who had to sit out the last match after receiving a red card in the bi-district round. . . . Tonight’s winner will face either The Woodlands (19-3-2) or Houston Cy-Falls (14-6-4) at 4 p.m. Friday in a semifinal of the regional tournament at Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex.
