After months of conditioning and refinement, the Coppell boys soccer team is ready to enter the season with intensity.

“They’re excited, they want to play and they’re ready,” coach Stephen Morris said.

After reaching the Class 6A Region I finals last season, the Cowboys hope to continue leaning into what has worked for them in the past while projecting more control over the pitch.

“We want to try to exert more control on games and control things that we can,” Morris said. “Soccer is a chaotic game, and if we can exert more control this year, we’re going to try. I think we have the athleticism to do that, but we’ll see after that first ball is kicked.”

The team is counting on its experience to guide younger players. Much of the returning roster includes players that were a key part of last year’s deep playoff run, such as senior forward Liam Spiller and senior goalkeeper Chase Anderson.

“We have a pretty strong core coming back of guys that got lots of minutes and are seniors this year, and they’re hungry,” Morris said. “That continuity as far as the effort levels, energy, game nights and belief is all the same.”

Coppell has cultivated an air of competitiveness among its team to help foster growth and keep effort high, especially for the new faces on the roster.

“I tell them that nobody’s place is safe,” Morris said. “Making it a friendly competition is going to help us be the most successful.”

The Cowboys open their season against Keller at Buddy Echols Field on Dec. 12.

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