Soccer may seem like simply running around a big turf-filled football stadium in an attempt to put a ball in a net once or twice a game, but to the players, it means so much more. In January, Neal E. Wilson Stadium transforms into a pitch where the Flower Mound Jaguars are ready to take state, after coming in second just last year. And like every sport, getting back to state level is going to be a team effort. 

On a team of 33, numbers 30, 31, and 32 bring up the end of the lineup but the beginning of a new promise of talent. These three players typically play most, if not all of the game, make some crazy plays, and can get from one end of the pitch to the other in a matter of seconds. But what is most impressive and connecting of these players is that they all made Varsity Soccer as freshmen. Andrew Penuel, Sagan Pandey, and Sebastian Maranon. 

Senior team captain Andrew Ritzert believes that having the freshmen on varsity is important for them, despite the seemingly large age gap. 

“Playing up will allow them to be confident in the later years and help their teammates in coming seasons,” Ritzert said. “The expectations are the same. I want the best for them and I want to see all of them succeed.”

Freshman Andrew Penuel agrees that playing up is an invaluable experience, conceding that it is a new challenge for him, but one he happily accepts. 

“They’re so much stronger than me now, because I’m five years younger than some people,” Penuel said. 

“The obstacle of playing up, however, has not deterred him from playing his best. In fact, it has spurred him on to play even harder than he has before.”

“When I win the ball from somebody, it feels really good,” Penuel said. “When I scored my second game on varsity – a header back post over the keeper – it’s such a good sensation.” 

But aside from the sweet victory of scoring on seniors, Penuel is making lifelong friends with his teammates. Playing on a team with an age range of 14-18 can be intimidating, but he doesn’t see it that way. 

“I knew almost all of them because they were my sister’s friends,” Penuel said. 

In addition to the inclusive team culture, he had grown up around a lot of the older varsity players, including captain Ritzert, so feeling left out of the group has not been an issue. Additionally, Penuel is not alone in his journey, with two other freshmen, Pandey and Maranon, to play beside him. 

“I play club with one of them, and then the other one is on the higher team, but I’ve played with him in middle school,” Penuel said. 

He is excited to grow as a player and become a leader with both Pandey and Maranon in the years to come.