Rising Star Roadtrip: Dodge City soccer seniors out for another historic season

DODGE CITY, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - You don’t have to look back very far in the Kansas high school soccer record books to find the Dodge City Red Demons. After winning the 2016 state championship with an undefeated record, they doubled down doing it again in 2020 - making them the first team in state history to have two undefeated state champion seasons.

“Being a part of it was just like an experience you’ve always wanted to be a part of,” Dodge City senior Angel Lopez said.

“You know, going undefeated with the group of guys that we had, it was pretty special,” said Dodge City head coach Saul Hernandez.

Since the second state championship for Dodge City, the Red Demons have been nothing short of entertaining to watch.

“This class has brought flare,” Hernandez said. “They’re so fast. They’re so creative. They do things that sometimes I don’t even know what they’re going to do.”

Now four years later the group of freshman from that historic 2020 team are seniors and hopeful to do it again.

“They knew they were there for the ride for the most part and that the seniors carried them that year,” Hernandez said. “Now I think they want to be the ones carrying the team.”

With this group of seniors only having one year left, they don’t want to leave anything on the table.

“One last chance,” said Dodge City senior Aron Martinez. “That’s my biggest motivation. It’s senior year I want to end it off with a good note.”

“Knowing it’s my last season and my last chance to get my second state title... I just have to play with everything every game,” said Dodge City senior David Garcia.

“I think we have what it takes to go as far as to go win it,” Lopez said. “I think it’s just having fun on our senior year. That’s the best thing.”

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