It was a tough year for the high school boys’ soccer team, with the Falcons going 1-6 in section play, 1-11 overall. Still, head coach Matt Pugliano said the local squad learned a lot this season, which he expects will help make for an even more successful run in 2016-17.

The year began with the boys’ soccer squad taking part in the Cactus Cup Tournament in early December.

Heading into the regular season, it wasn’t until Dec. 15 that the Falcons earned their first and only win of the season, besting Scottsdale Christian Academy by a final score of 4-2.

The Falcons battled through to a final showdown against Seton Catholic on Jan. 26, wrapping up their run with a 5-2 loss on the road.

According to Pugliano, the Falcons knew going into the season that this would be a rebuilding year.

“Only having three returning starters created a big gap in experience that we had to fill quickly,” Pugliano said.

“Our first game – and, for many, their first varsity minutes – was against the defending state champions, so it was basically straight into the fire for the boys.”

Pugliano said he and his staff did their best to keep the team positive, which he admits can be difficult during such a rough season.

“But they kept their heads and spirits up throughout the entire year,” he added.

Pugliano said that defeating a rival is always a plus, so besting longtime opponents Scottsdale Christian was a highlight of the season.

“Our biggest weakness this season was playing experience,” Pugliano continued.

“In our starting 11, we had maybe four or five guys that had played soccer consistently throughout their lives. When you’re plugging in people who don’t know the nuances of the game, it really can kill the flow of an attack or defense. We’re going to get some offseason programs going in order to get the guys who don’t pay club soccer some time on the ball. That will be our biggest focus heading into next season.”

Looking back over 2015-16, Pugliano said that junior Matt Chalmers proved to be “the rock” for the Falcons.

“He brings a ton of competitive experience to the table and his talent is tremendous,” Pugliano added.

“I really leaned on him to be a team leader, which I think was a new concept for him, but he blew past my expectations.”

In the end, Pugliano said he and his assistants were proud of the way the Falcons carried themselves through the difficult season.

“It’s really tough to be upbeat and enjoy the game when you aren’t winning a lot, but the boys enjoyed themselves and gave us great effort,” he added.

This season, the Falcons bid farewell to a handful of seniors, including Jordan Smout, Andy Chen and Liam Niederbaumer.

“Jordan brought tremendous work ethic to the team,” Pugliano said.

“There were some days where he would run to and from practice rather than drive because he wanted to get extra work in. Andy was a great leader, since he had been with the program for all four years of high school and knew the coaches the best.

“Liam was a relative newcomer to the team, having just moved from out of state, but he offered great humility to the team. He was one of the guys that stepped it up late in the season when we needed him. I’m going to miss all three of them and wish them the best in the future.”

As for the guys who will be returning to the pitch next season, Pugliano said the Falcons can expect to ratchet up the tempo.

“It was a new experience for me as a head coach of a varsity program, so I was learning a little on the fly,” Pugliano said.

“We’re going to work hard in the offseason and that will translate to high expectations next season.”

And as Pugliano puts it, aiming high means making a trip to the playoffs next time around.

“It’s the benefit of being around such a successful athletic department, that we can have such lofty goals,” Pugliano added.

“I’m looking forward to the returning payers being a bit older, more seasoned, as well as the incoming group from the middle school. We should be pretty well set up next year.”