A year after Soledad arrived as a soccer program in 1999, it was hanging the schools first league banner.
What has transpired in 19 years is 17 winning seasons, six league titles and four unbeaten league campaigns, including last year when it didn't win the league championship.
So a move to the Gabilan Division this year wasn't unexpected. Neither is the 4-0-2 non-league start this season. Soledad doesn't rebuilt. It restocks its roster.
The Aztecs are playing with a purpose this winter, tired of being criticized for being a big fish in a small school league. Now they're on an even playing ground in an elite league.
Clearly having three of your top four scorers from last winter back is a big boast, including Ruben Esqueda, who compiled eight assists last year.
The senior already has six goals this year, sharing the team lead with Alexis Ortiz, who compiled 10 goals last season. Esqueda also has a team high four assists.
It doesn't hurt having a distributor in the midfield in Alexis Sanchez, who had nine goals and a team high 10 assists last year. The playmaker has two goals and three assists in six games this year.
Playing in the Gabilan Division means battles nightly. Alisal has been state ranked in the past. San Benito and Watsonville are also currently unbeaten. Alvarez is a force.
The belief is there has to be growing pains when a team comes into the Gabilan Division.
Says who?
The expectations in Soledad haven't changed. And that's chasing supremacy.
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