The Polo Park Middle School boys soccer team.
The boys soccer team from Polo Park Middle School just finished their best regular season in program history — an undefeated 10-0 record. Now it’s time to compete in the Palm Beach County middle school soccer playoffs.
According to head coach Craig Kaliser, winning the Palm Beach County title would be a first in school history, but last year’s team almost achieved that goal, losing in the championship game.
The two big reasons that this year’s Polo Park team is so strong are the players’ ability to score goals and stop them from being scored. In the regular season, Polo Park scored 39 goals while allowing just four, one of which was an own goal.
As for the current team, Kaliser likes the chemistry that exists on his young squad.
“This team is one of the most individually talented teams, top-to-bottom, we’ve ever had,” said Kaliser, now in his second year as the team’s head coach after a nine-year stint coaching the school’s girls soccer team. “We have unbelievable skill at all levels. We have strikers who have a knack for finishing, midfielders with incredible ball-handling skills and vision, plus fast, tough defenders who can stop an attack and start a counterattack. We also have two athletic goalkeepers with incredible reflexes.”
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During games, Kaliser monitors what happens on the field from the sidelines while his two captains, Josiah Albino and Santiago Aguilera, are an extension of his oversight on the field.
“Josiah is about as good a leader as a coach could ask for. He is respected by his teammates, so when he speaks, they listen,” Kaliser said. “The players also love Santiago. He is a little more reserved, but he plays hard and is a good teammate. Both players have been on the team for three years.”
Both co-captains are eighth graders and have led by example throughout the entire season.
Aguilera leads the team in goals with eight, while Albino is the holding midfielder who controls the tempo and the distribution of the ball.
In addition to the two co-captains, one of the team’s most talented players is attacking midfielder Daniel Moreno. “His footwork and ball control are unbelievable,” Kaliser said.
There are a few players who were not on last year’s team that have been pleasant surprises for Kaliser this season.
“Centerback Diego Ramirez is able to stop many opposing attacks before they start and begin our counterattack like a third center midfielder. Right wing Nicolas Conde is a skilled winger who scored a few big goals for us this year, and center back Paulo Piper has solidified the back end of our defense all season,” said Kaliser, who teaches physical education at Polo Park. “We only gave up one goal in the run of play all year, and it was an own goal. Also, I have been surprised at how well the seventh graders have played and contributed all year.”
As for the postseason, Polo Park will host a playoff quarterfinal game on Friday, Dec. 12. After that, the tournament’s semifinals will be held Monday, Dec. 15, with the championship game Wednesday, Dec. 17.
With three more victories, the Polo Park boys soccer team could set another historic first in school history by becoming the county champions.
