Experienced Viking soccer team ready for Lufkin

The Bryan Vikings opened the 2012 season with a wealth of experience from a team that got hot late last year.

They're still hot, winning the championship of the Willis Kat Cup soccer tournament Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Humble Summer Creek. Arnoldo Garica, Eduardo Garcia and Rene Juarez all scored goals in the final, with Aron Rodriquez and Jose Falcon getting assists.

Falcon, Jordan Freeman and Juarez were named all-tournament.

Bryan returns seven starters from a team that won six of its last seven games, including an upset of nationally-ranked Belton at Merrill Green Stadium, which set the stage for the playoffs.

"We just build around those guys," Bryan coach Tommie Allmon said. "A lot of those are seniors. They were juniors last year."

Bryan finished last season with a 13-9-1 record and a second-place finish in District 12-5A, the Vikings' best since winning the district crown in 2005.

Jacob Marucci will play in the middle defense and Abel Gutierrez returns in goal.

"Abel will be goalie again," Allmon said. "We've played him half and half. He's a forward as well, so we've given him some time on the field while we can."

Gutierrez will be too valuable in goal to play elsewhere too often. He opened there when the Vikings, 2-0-1 in their three scrimmages, began the season at the Willis Kat Cup Tournament.

At that tournament Thursday, Falcon scored two goals in the opening game, a 5-2 win over Cy-Falls.

The Vikings won by three goals in all tournament games to start the season at 4-0. The last three wins in the tournament, over Livingston, Tomball Memorial and Summer Creek, were by 3-0 scores.

In Friday's victory over Livingstone, Eduardo Garcia, Juarez and Falcon scored.

Eduardo Garcia, Jordan Freeman and Juarez scored in the victory over Tomball Memorial.

Bryan returns to play Monday at Lufkin.

"In the midfield, our main guys at the end of the season were Jose Falcon and Joey Wilder," Allmon said. "Jose played on the outside and we moved him into the middle and they shore up that middle part. On the outside, Jordan Freeman comes back with us and he's our speed demon out there."

Arnaldo Garcia, who played in the middle a year ago, moved to a forward position.

"Part of Arnaldo's deal is that he tweaked his knee and I didn't want him in the middle right now to get beaten up," Allmon said. "We put him at forward and it's been good, so he may stay there."

Allmon thinks his bench is strong again this year and believes he has four or five players who can relieve starters and keep the flow of the game the same. The Bryan coach thinks Belton and A&M Consolidated will be top contenders in 12-5A play, along with Temple and emerging Harker Heights. The Knights beat Bryan twice last season.

"I think how we finished last year has carried over to this year," Allmon said. "These guys are a positive bunch of kids and they just pass so well. It's not about who scores. It's just move the ball around and let's go play the game.

"They get along well. They are easy-going and easy to play together. You can't ask for much better than that."