Handling the left middle position in soccer is by no means an easy task; it requires constant running, directing other teammates, and a whole lot of thinking.
Pioneer Valley High School varsity soccer player Alex Mendoyino plays the position with unparalleled skill and smarts. In keeping with his family’s tradition of producing soccer players, he started playing when he was 3 years old; two of his four sisters played soccer in high school as well.
The senior player said playing left middle requires him to be mentally and physically fit.
“I spend the game running back and forth, trying to create plays while helping the defense,” he explained.
What Mendoyino didn’t say is that he spends the better part of two 45-minute halves sprinting back and forth; he attributes his increased endurance to playing water polo this year.
Before coming into this season, Mendoyino worked to improve his technical skills such as touching and passing while learning to communicate more with his team.
His hard work is paying off as the team lost only one of its last eight games and is currently ranked third in CIF Division 5.
“All the teams we face are good,” Mendoyino said. “Every game presents a new challenge.”
He said the team overcomes those challenges by never giving up when they’re down.
“I always try to do my best and help create plays for my team mates,” Mendoyino said.
One of the unique things about Mendoyino is that he plays left footed. While he said that it sometimes can be challenging, it’s mostly a good thing and benefits him playing the left side of the field; his parents taught him to play with his left foot, even though he’s right-handed.
Pioneer Valley soccer coach Carlos Robles has been coaching Mendoyino all four years and expects the senior to be a key player this season.
“He is a really physical player,” Robles said. “He is smart and anticipates ball movement. I like the way he is playing right now.”
Mendoyino said that an obvious goal for the team this year is to make it to CIF; if they keep playing with the same determination, it shouldn’t be too hard.
The senior said he would definitely like to play soccer in college, preferably for D1 program California State Northridge.
“There are more opportunities to play professionally at the D1 level,” Mendoyino said, adding that it would be cool to play in England. Career-wise, the soccer player would like to become a police officer.
In the meantime, Mendoyino will continue to live, eat, and breathe soccer.
“Playing as a team, scoring—it’s all a great feeling,” Mendoyino said. “I love the adrenaline rush, and the momentum of the team is energizing.”
This article appears in Dec 13-20, 2012.