Atletico Santa Rosa making push in MLS Next
Life in MLS Next is tough sledding, and the Atletico Santa Rosa 2006 boys team learned that the hard way. The team started out slowly, finding themselves at the bottom of the table during the early days. But things changed.…
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Continue ReadingLife in MLS Next is tough sledding, and the Atletico Santa Rosa 2006 boys team learned that the hard way.
The team started out slowly, finding themselves at the bottom of the table during the early days. But things changed. The boys found their footing, came together, and started to make a push. After the slow start, the team made the goal of finishing in the top four.
The team really started to gel in December when it went to the MLS Next-Fest and finished first place in its group. ASR headed into this past weekend, in fifth, just behind Breakers FC, as they make a push for a top-four spot. ASR helped its case on Sunday with a 2-2 draw against second-place Ballistic.
“We are playing so much better than we did early in the season,” ASR 06 coach Daniel Garcia said. “From where we started to where we are now, there is a massive difference.”
The team plays a 4-4-2 and likes to keep the ball. They play a varying style depending on the opponent, switching the way the pressure, but they keep the same core ideas. They like to build up and possess.
The team has a great deal of talent, but right now is being led by two players in particular.
Kiki Menjivar, Striker
Menjivar is impressive because he is a 2007 player who is playing a year up, and doing so at a very high level. He is a very talented, and very fast player. He might be a bit smaller but makes up for his size by showing fabulous technique. He is great in 1v1 situations, he has a strong shot from distance and he can really get himself out of tough situations because of his technical ability.
Isaiah Seppa, Central Defender
Seppa is what you like to see out of a center back. He is big, tall, and strong. He reads the game very well. He can anticipate when an attacking player is going to try to make a run in behind, or through a seam and cut the ball out, or win a cross in the air and he is good in 1v1 situations in anticipating what the attacker will do. He is the leader of the back line for the ASR 2006 team.