Community Champions: Montwood soccer team ready for Sweet 16

The Montwood boys soccer team will meet Irving on Friday in Midland for the right to go to the regional final.

The Rams defeated Socorro 1-0 last week to book their spot in the Sweet 16. They are now the last local team still alive in the 6A state playoffs.

They are just two wins away from a Region I championship and a trip to the Final Four.

“I mean, right now it’s a pretty big thing that we’re representing El Paso for class 6A. Everyone’s looking at us, and we’ll see what we do,” said goalkeeper Ricardo Olague. “We want to make El Paso happy.”

The Rams also have wins over Midland Lee and Keller so far this postseason.

Montwood finished third in the incredibly tough district 1-6A, trailing Eastwood and Socorro in the final standings.

But they’ve hit their stride in the postseason, just as they always imagined they would.

“Yeah, you know, these guys wanted to prove that they were one of the best soccer teams in Texas,” said head coach Carlos Canales. “So, yes, I believe that was the expectation set at the beginning. We wanted to go far.”

In addition to Montwood, Bowie and Del Valle are still alive in class 5A. Additionally, San Elizario has made it to the Sweet 16 in 4A.