San Jacinto College Men’s Soccer is hard at work preparing for the Region XIV tournament on Oct. 25 and 29 in Tyler, Texas where they will play five games to qualify for the District Championship beginning on Nov. 4.

The team practices for almost two hours every weekday and have a light practice, like a quick run, before a match on game days. The tough practices paid off in wins for the majority of their games.

With the regular season behind them and the tournament ahead, the soccer team continues to move forward with help from Head Coach Ian Spooner, Assistant Coach Pablo Reyes, and Trainer Carie Mueller.

During practices, Reyes helps the players with drills like passing patterns and scrimmaging. “There’s a 15-minute warm-up, 20 minutes of a passing pattern, 30 minutes of a physically demanding activity, and then a 30-minute scrimmage,” he said.

Three years ago, before becoming an assistant coach, Reyes played with the Coyotes and has since set objectives based on his experience as a player.

“My main two goals are to get the guys to graduate from San Jacinto and to win the national championship,” Reyes said.

Likewise, Mueller is there to help prep the team before games and in the event of any injuries.

“Before practices and games, I tape or wrap athletes, make sure they are properly hydrated, and pregame nutrition is met,” Mueller said. “When injuries happen, I assess and diagnosis the injury then provide treatment.”

In addition to staying in peak physical condition, she said some players attempt to ensure success with pregame rituals carried out before a match.

“Athletes are very superstitious, so there are little things some of them have to do before every game,” Mueller said, “I know all these routines.”

Coyotes play Southwest Christian College in the last game of the regular season at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 on the Soccer field of the South Campus.