Behind senior standout Enrique Guzman, Santa Fe South boys soccer aiming to repeat as champions

By Douglas Miles 

Photo of Santa Fe South by Santa Fe South Athletics Twitter page

DUNCAN - Wes Furley feels his soccer team is deeper and more talented than last season.

Considering the longtime Santa Fe South boys coach led last year's group to a state championship, his heightened confidence should put the rest of Class 5A on alert.

"We're keeping possession, we're making good decisions now," Furley said after Santa Fe South routed Duncan, 7-0, in a District 1 match Tuesday night at Duncan High School. "We're working hard every single day.

"The best thing is, we're playing together as a team. We're unselfish. We don't care who scores goals as long as we score goals. We don't care who gets the credit. ... We just keep playing hard and staying healthy."

The win was the eighth in nine matches this season for Santa Fe South (8-1, 2-0 District 1), which has now outscored its two district foes to the tune of 17-0. Senior standout Enrique Guzman got the Saints' scoring started against Duncan with a goal in the 13th minute.

"I'm really fast, so it is kind of hard for defenders to keep up with my speed," Guzman said.

The score inched Guzman closer to double digits in goals scored this season, which leads the team. He is also in competition for the team lead in assists.

"It shows that I can play anywhere," said Guzman, who typically plays forward and has a scholarship offer from NAIA-level Oklahoma Wesleyan. "Either on the wing, midfield or up top. I can still give assists and contribute to the team."

Guzman's reputation as a speedster and his immense playmaking ability was elevated by his performance in last year's state tournament. His two goals in the state semifinal, plus another in the state championship victory over Oklahoma City Southeast, meant he would attract a significant amount of attention from opposing defenses this season.

"He never gives up," Furley said. "He is a really good player. A lot of kids know who he is. ... They know about him.

"He always works hard. He never gives up. He will go until his legs fall off."

Apart from Guzman leading the charge, what makes Santa Fe South an improved squad that seems to embrace the target that comes with being a defending state champion is its impressive depth.

Junior forward Erik Herrera has scored six goals in the last two-plus weeks, including a "hat trick" - three goals in one match - against Duncan.

"At first, we were a little bit too confident playing," Herrera said. "But now we are getting back to winning 10-0, 7-0, so it is helping a lot."

After opening the season with four victories, the Saints traveled to Tennessee March 16-18 and competed in three matches in the Smoky Mountain Cup, where they won one, lost one and also battled to a draw. The loss was to Brentwood (Tenn.), currently ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Spring High School Rankings.

"We learned that other states are not as good as we thought they might have been," Furley said. "That they are the same level as us. We kind of put them on a pedestal.

"And then 6A and 7A don't mean bigger schools. They have promotion and relegation in Tennessee and Alabama and we didn't know that. We know that we can drive 13, 14 hours and compete with other teams."

Just before the season, Santa Fe South was dealt a potential blow when senior goalkeeper Edgar Perez - a potential all-state candidate - tore the anterior-cruciate ligament in his knee. In stepped junior Adrian Sanchez, a two-year fill-in player who has been fantastic.

The Saints have allowed just three goals in seven games this season against Oklahoma competition.

"(Sanchez) stepped up and he did it for the team and he has been doing well in there," said senior midfielder Jair Estrada, who scored a goal against Duncan. "He can handle the ball. He played before for us. If we pass it back to him, he can handle the ball.

"He's good. He's good back there. Defense is good, but he is good, too."

Estrada and senior Jimmy Cabrera comprise a potent one-two punch at the midfielder position for the Saints. Senior forward Ivan Camacho added a goal in Tuesday's win, while sophomore forward Francisco Salazar chipped in a goal and an assist off the bench.

Santa Fe South will continue district play with a trip to Ardmore on Thursday.

"Keep putting in the work," Guzman said. "Off and on during practice. Even in our free time, we still need to put in the work because there are things we could work on personally that is better for the team."