The Cooper boys’ and girls’ soccer teams begin the 2024 season in January with both squads looking for a return to the postseason.
Each coach believes they have the pieces in place to make a run at a playoff spot.
The Cooper boys will get their season started on Jan. 2 when they take on Odessa High in Odessa before playing in the Abilene ISD Tournament, set for Jan. 4-6. Cooper’s first District 4-5A match will be Jan. 30 at Lubbock Cooper.
The Cooper girls start their season under first-year head coach Alejandro Chavez in the AISD Tournament before hosting Sweetwater on Jan. 9 at Shotwell Stadium. The Lady Coogs’ first district contest will be Jan. 30 when they host Lubbock. Cooper at Shotwell Stadium.
Here’s a brief look at each team going into the 2023-24 season:
COOPER BOYS
The 2024 campaign will be the 24th for Lalo Munoz as the Cooper head coach, and he enters the season coming off an unfamiliar season. For the first time in 10 years, the Cougars finished out of the playoffs as they were 5-11-1 overall and 2-8 (fifth) in District 4-5A.
The Cougars have a plethora of new faces, and those players – along with returning all-district honorable mention selections Alaka Assumani and Joe Cortes – are motivated to help the Cougars return to the Class 5A playoffs.
“Last year was the first time we did not make the playoffs in 10 years, so the team is highly motivated to get back in this season,” Munoz said. “We will have a few first-year varsity players in some key positions this year. The team understands that this year will be a process. Our goal is to use the scrimmages and pre-season games to develop and prepare our team to be at a very competitive level going into district play.”
A consistent attack will be one of the goals for the Cougars, who scored just 33 goals in 17 matches in 2023.
“We did not do a good job capitalizing on scoring opportunities last season,” Munoz said. “We were young last year at some of our attacking positions and most of those players are back, so we are looking to have more success in that area. We need to make sure that we play hungry, and we must be ready to compete in every game.”
COOPER GIRLS
Chavez is in his first season as the Lady Cougars’ head coach, but he is no stranger to high school soccer or Abilene. A standout player at McMurry University, he was an assistant coach at Abilene High in 2017-18 and was a substitute teacher in the AISD in the spring of 2019 before going to Hobbs (New Mexico) High School, where he served as the head coach of the boys’ team the last three seasons.
While at Hobbs, Chavez led the Eagles to a combined 41-11-1 record and three straight District 4-5A championships (17-1 combined district record in those three seasons). He laid the groundwork for a program that went 23-0 this fall (New Mexico’s competitive high school season is played in the fall), winning the Class 5A state championship.
Chavez knows the Lady Cougars haven’t reached the state playoffs since 2019 and haven’t won a playoff match since 2018, but he isn’t shying away from the challenge of getting the program moving in the right direction. He has increased numbers (49) since the start of the school year and is setting the culture he wants in his program.
“The team has goals established to build trust and respect with one another, build mental strength to be confident within themselves as well as their teammates, be a student first then an athlete, value their accomplishments within one another, and make the playoffs this year,” Chavez said. “The coaching staff and I do believe in these young ladies and can’t wait to accomplish those goals this season.”
Kayla Dillon and Cayelyn Nault – both of whom were honorable mention all-district selections last year – return to lead the squad, which will look to newcomers Tessa Vermillion (freshman defender), Yesenia Rodriguez (senior defender), Addison Miles (junior wing), Mackenzie Ash (junior forward), and Harled VanPelt (junior striker) to add a spark to the 2024 team.
BOYS
Cooper Cougars
Head coach: Lalo Munoz (24th season, 24th season at Cooper)
Career record: 228-198-37 at Cooper
Last year’s record: 5-11-1, 2-8 (5th in District 4-5A)
Last district title: 2017
Last playoff appearance: 2022 (lost to Amarillo High, 2-0, in bi-district round)
Last playoff win: 2018 (def. Amarillo High, 2-0, in bi-district round)
Returning lettermen/starters: 10/7
Players to watch (name, position, classification): Alaka Assumani, Defender, sr; Jr Perez, Forward, jr; Christian Hernandez, Midfielder, sr.
Returning all-district players: Alaka Assumani (honorable mention all-district in 2022); Joe Cortes (honorable mention in 2022)
General comments about your team: “Last year was the first time we did not make the playoffs in 10 years, so the team is highly motivated to get back in this season. We will have a few first-year varsity new players in some key positions this year. The team understands that this year will be a process. Our goal is to use the scrimmages and pre-season games to develop and prepare us to be at a very competitive level going into district play.”
What’s the key to getting this team back in the chase for a district championship and a sustained playoff run? “We will need to play consistently in the attacking phase. We did not do a good job capitalizing on scoring opportunities last season. We were young last year at some of our attacking positions last season and most of those players are back this season, so we are looking to have more success in this area this year. We need to make sure that we play hungry this year and we must be ready to compete in every game.”
You’ve been part of this program for 24 years now; what still drives you? What is the joy you get out of this every day? “Soccer has been a major part of my life since I was a kid. I enjoy teaching others who love the game as well. I enjoy the challenge of developing and mentoring the students that I can impact. Every season is a different year with different challenges. For me, soccer was a vehicle that allowed me to continue my education and it was something that had a positive impact on my life, and I want to be able to provide that to my players. At the end of the day when I see the smiles and the happiness in my players’ faces because they had success in that moment is rewarding to me, because I know I influenced that.”
GIRLS
Cooper Lady Cougars
Head coach: Alejandro Chavez (4th season overall, 1st at Cooper)
Career record: 41-11-1 in 3 seasons at Hobbs, N.M. (0-0-0 at Cooper)
Last year’s record: 2-18, 1-11 (7th in District 4-5A)
Last district title: 1996
Last playoff appearance: 2019 (lost to Lubbock Coronado, 4-1, in bi-district round)
Last playoff win: 2018 (def. El Paso Jefferson, 4-3, in bi-district round)
Returning lettermen/starters: 9 / 4
Players to watch (name, position, height, classification): Kayla Dillon Center-Mid, 5-7, jr; Anita Alcantar, Striker, 5-3, sr; Cayelyn Nault, Center-Mid, 5-5, jr; Ana Cervantes, 5-6, jr; Emma Garcia, Center-Mid, 5-4, jr.
Newcomers to watch (name, position, height, classification): Tessa Vermilion, Defender, 5-5, fr; Yesenia Rodriguez, Defender, 5-4, sr; Addison Miles, Wing, 5-5, jr; Mackenzie Ash, Forward, 5-3, jr; Harlee VanPelt, Striker, 5-8, jr.
Returning all-district players: Kayla Dillon (honorable mention in 2022); Cayelyn Nault (honorable mention in 2022).
General comments about your team: “First, these student-athletes have been present every day. One thing is for sure: I am proud of each of the 49 student-athletes who are part of the Cooper girls’ soccer program. I am very blessed to be able to coach them. I am constantly thinking of ways to make this program one percent better each day. We are establishing discipline, accountability, responsibility, and goals for these girls. I believe in having a positive mindset and attitude on the field as well as from it. I want the girls to feel as though we are one family and in this together. I always want them to have the confidence to never give up, given any situation they’re put in. Making sure we are giving 100 percent in the classroom and outside the classroom. Every day we are in a winning attitude.”
What are the goals you and your team have established for the season? “The team has goals established to build trust and respect with one another, build mental strength to be confident within themselves as well as their teammates, be a STUDENT first then an athlete, value their accomplishments within one another, and make the playoffs this year. The coaching staff and I do believe in these young ladies and can’t wait to accomplish these goals this season.”
