2024 Bullpup Fall Sports Preview: Boys Soccer

McPHERSON, Kan. – Ad Astra Radio continues their McPherson High School Fall Sport Previews for the 2024 fall season. Next on the list is Boys Soccer.

The Bullpups finished 4th in the 4-1A State Tournament in 2023, finishing with a 10-10-1 record. The team fell to Bishop Ward in PK’s in the semifinals before falling 2-0 in the Third Place Game.

Despite the finish, the team had four All-State honorees. The biggest honor went to Hayden Hoxie, who was named to the All-State First Team and was the 4-1A Midfielder of the Year. He also finished First Team All-League as a Forward. Hunter Mendez, another Midfielder, also earned First Team All-State and All-League honors. Defender Aiden Wheaton finished as an All-State Second Team honoree and Forward Boy Rodriguez was named an Honorable Mention.

However, the Bullpups will have to turn a new leaf for 2024 with Hoxie moving to Oklahoma and the other three All-Staters graduating, including Mendez starting his collegiate career at Central Christian College. However, the team does bring back five starters, three of which earning All-League honors.

“We aren’t going to hide from the fact that we lost numerous key players from last year’s team through graduation or transfer,” Head Coach Chris Adrian said. “The offseason work the team has put in has shown me they are up for the challenge and want to reload rather than rebuild. Change brings opportunity and the upperclassmen have done a great job over the last 6 months leading the team preparing them for this season.”

Senior Forward Borin Heang, Junior Midfielder Manny Morales, and Junior Goalkeeper Gabe Standfast return after earning All-AVCTL Div. 3/4 honors in 2023. The roster also has three other seniors in Defender Alex Brubaker, Defender Ryan Bond, and Midfielder Ervin Jose Francisco, the latter two of which being returning starters.

Head Coach Chris Adrian goes into his 15th season as the head man, so far accruing a record of 177-82-9. This season, they’ll look to earn their first league title since 2019 and want to shock the rest of 4-1A as they aim for their third state title and their first since 2003.

“This team is willing to work hard and play for each other,” Adrian said. “It’s going to take some time getting new players’ experience and roles established but I believe this team can make another strong postseason run as they’ve been known to do.”

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