The Varsity Bear Soccer team is at it again. While celebrating their 10-1-1 district record and their “District Champions” title, they have also been preparing for their first playoff game.

These boys have been on the ball all season and continue to push to the limit each day after school. They have been preparing for post-district play by sticking to their normal practices and of course, trying to get used to the change in temperature. The boys will face Waco La Vega tonight at Charles St. Stadium in Humble, Texas.

“I expect my boys to play hard and put everything they have onto the field,” head coach Jeremy Watzlavik said.

According to Watzlavik, all of the boys have been working hard and putting their heads and hearts into winning the district championship. They are not only the District Champs, but they’re the first LC-M soccer team to win first in district.

“The best part about this season was winning the district championship,” team captain Connor Maglothin said. “Being the captain of the team that won district makes me feel like I made a difference.”

Right after the team won the district championship against Liberty, they all joined in on a “mud slide” on the wet and muddy ground beside the field. Every player on team took a victory slide, including the coach.

“I think the ‘mud slide’ after our district championship win was pretty memorable,” Watzlavik said. “It felt great the night we won. The next day it was back to the daily grind, just trying to be better by the next game.”

The team graduated nine players last year, making a challenging base to begin with. Along with all of the other challenges with the new season, the boys had a tough time at first, but quickly overcame any struggles they might have faced.

“The difference between this year’s team and last year’s team is the way the team acts on and off the field,” Maglothin said. “The most challenging part of this soccer season has been adjusting to all the new players. This year was special because we aren’t just a team. We are all friends.”

The boys have had a long and difficult season, but they persevered and all of the work they put in proved to be worth it.

“Every year I develop bonds that will last a lifetime,” Watzlavik said. “These bonds, to me, are priceless.”