APOLLO FILE:  An Article about the Sharpstown Soccer team from the HOUSTON CHRONICLE

• Despite one of the area’s youngest line-ups, Sharpstown is off to a fast start in District 43-4A. • The Apollos recently battled Davis and Austin to scoreless ties, holding at 3-0-3 overall and 2-0-2 in league play.

• Veteran leadership: Sharpstown has relied on a pair of seniors, center midfielder Antonio Muñoz and right back Alberto Contreras. Muñoz has three goals and three assists, while Contreras has led the Apollos’ defense.

• Coming up: Sharpstown will meet Reagan at 8 p.m. Friday at Delmar Stadium • in a showdown between two of the top teams in District 43-4A

• Sharpstown head boys soccer coach Robert Jones can count the number of returning varsity players on one hand. But the Apollos haven’t allowed their youth and inexperience to hold them back, showing they will be a factor in District 43-4A this season.
“We’ve actually done a little better than I expected,” Jones said. “We’ve had some injuries and lost a few players we were counting on for various reasons. It’s taken us a while to find a rotation that works for us, but we’re almost there.”

Sharpstown opened league play with routine victories over Waltrip 11-0 and Westbury 4-1 before battling Davis and Austin to scoreless ties. That left the Apollos at 3-0-3 overall and 2-0-2 in District 43-4A. “If we could find a way to put the ball into the net, we’d be in first place (in district) right now,” Jones said.

Senior center midfielder Antonio Muñoz, one of the few veterans on the team, has carried much of the scoring load. Muñoz, who trains with the Houstonians club team, has three goals and three assists.  “Antonio was our second-leading scorer last year (16 goals, eight assists),” Jones said. “He’s picked up where he left off. We’re counting on big things from him.”

Muñoz plays next to a freshman, Hanbert Ayala. The other midfielders are sophomore Eric Venegas and freshman Johnny Rivera on the left and right sides, respectively. They are filling in for a pair of injured players, freshman Issac Weah (ankle) and junior Daniel Estrada (ankle/knee).

“Not counting Antonio, our midfield is almost brand new,” Jones said.  The situation is only slightly better at forward. Junior Rony De La Mora holds down one spot, but Jones was forced to elevate junior Randy Ramos from the junior varsity after sophomore Jaime Martinez pulled a hamstring.  “It’s been one thing after another,” Jones said.  Defensively, Sharpstown has leaned on senior Alberto Contreras at right back. Contreras is an all-region performer for the Apollos.

“Alberto is a four-year varsity player and a team captain,” Jones said. “We’d be in trouble without him. He holds our defense together, pushes the ball up the field and gets it to our scorers.”  Rounding out the defense are senior Rolland Gee at sweeper, sophomore Wilbert Lara at stopper and freshman Leo Ayala at right back.

Sharpstown also has benefited from the heady play of senior Orlyn Alvares-Montero at goalkeeper. Alvares-Montero, a move-in from New York, has allowed only a single goal in four league games.  “Orlyn has come in and made a major impact,” Jones said. “He’s kept us in every game.”

Jones, who has coached the Apollos to five district titles and six playoff appearances in eight years, said the season has tested his patience, with a new line-up each game. But Sharpstown, as usual, is finding a way to win.  “We’ve had some adversity, but we’ve held it together,” Jones said. “I’m really proud of this team. They’re learning how to compete.”  “We’ve had some adversity, but we’ve held it together,” Jones said. “I’m really proud of this team. They’re learning how to compete.”