Carthage Bulldogs Boys Soccer Builds Toward a Bright Future: A Look Back at the 2025 Winter Season
The 2025 winter season proved to be a year of growth, grit, and potential for the Carthage High School Boys Soccer team under the leadership of Head Coach Lee Melton. While the season presented its share of challenges, especially with injuries hitting at critical moments, the Bulldogs showed signs of a promising future by leaning on a young and hungry roster, resilient mentality, and strategic adaptation on the pitch.
Leadership in the Heart of the Team
Every successful team leans on leaders, and for Carthage, that role was proudly filled by senior captain Brandon Salazar. Operating from the midfield, Salazar was the connective tissue of the squad, bringing both composure and intensity to the team’s overall play.
“Brandon led from the middle, helping the team’s cohesiveness,” said Coach Melton. His leadership on and off the field set the standard for a team made up largely of underclassmen, making his role even more pivotal in maintaining unity and focus through a season filled with transition and growth.
Up front, junior Sebastian Ramones emerged as the team’s primary scoring threat. “Sebastian led the team in finishing in the back of the net,” Coach Melton added. His consistent goal-scoring ability gave Carthage much-needed firepower and kept the Bulldogs competitive in tight matches.
Season Reflections: Challenges and Growth
While the Bulldogs did not achieve all their competitive goals, the season unfolded largely as anticipated for Coach Melton, who framed the year as one of development and preparation for future success. “Our year went as expected,” he noted. “With only three seniors starting on varsity, it gave plenty of positions filled with underclassmen.”
That youth movement offered both promise and a learning curve. With so many new faces on the pitch, the team focused less on immediate results and more on building chemistry, gaining experience, and developing a foundation that would carry into future seasons. The silver lining? Many of the players logging major minutes this year will return, now with invaluable varsity experience under their belts.
A Season Defined by Adversity
Every team faces a turning point, and for Carthage, it came in the form of injuries. “Injuries sustained in tournaments right before district play plagued us for the remainder of the season,” said Coach Melton. Those untimely setbacks forced the coaching staff to adjust formations and rethink their strategy heading into the heart of the competition.
Yet adversity revealed the Bulldogs’ resilience. “Many players rose to the occasion as we had to adjust positions and formations to compensate,” Melton explained. It was during these challenging stretches that the character of the team was forged. Players embraced new roles, filled unfamiliar gaps, and remained focused on improvement despite the setbacks.
This ability to adapt and respond—hallmarks of a mature squad—was especially encouraging given how young the team was. The Bulldogs' grit during adversity may not have led to a championship this year, but it laid the groundwork for one down the line.
Breakout Performers and Emerging Stars
While the veterans led the way early, several players grew into critical roles as the season progressed. Coach Melton highlighted two players in particular who stepped up: Somphone Geraro Flores and junior Roberto Salazar.
Both players steadily developed throughout the season and became key parts of the team’s rotation. Whether contributing to possession, creating chances, or anchoring play during difficult stretches, their presence and growth added depth and versatility to the lineup.
As these athletes continue to develop, they will form part of the Bulldogs’ core for next season, with a stronger understanding of their roles and the demands of high school soccer.
Senior Leadership: Small in Number, Big in Impact
Despite fielding a young team, Carthage benefited from having senior leadership on the field, specifically in crucial areas like defense and midfield. “Having a senior on defense as well as in the midfield kept our energy and intensity up,” said Coach Melton.
These seniors provided more than just technical ability—they brought maturity, accountability, and a game-day mindset that helped keep the Bulldogs competitive. Their influence helped guide the underclassmen, shaping the locker room culture that will carry forward.
While the graduating class is small, their impact is lasting. They set the tone, modeled the work ethic, and helped instill the values that Coach Melton hopes to build on next season.
Eyes on the Horizon
Perhaps the most exciting element of this season isn’t what was achieved, but what it points toward. “Having 90% of our starters returning with some bright freshmen coming up through the ranks excites me,” said Coach Melton. The foundation is strong, the experience is in place, and the hunger to succeed is growing.
The coach also has his sights set on improving a key tactical area: transitioning into the final third. “We’re looking to improve on transitioning as a team into the final third of the pitch,” he noted. With players now more comfortable in their roles and a full off-season to work on movement, chemistry, and execution, this could be a major area of growth.
That focus will allow Carthage to convert more possession into scoring opportunities—an area that could turn close games into wins and push the Bulldogs further up the table in the coming year.
Follow the Bulldogs
For fans, alumni, and supporters eager to keep tabs on Carthage Boys Soccer, stats and updates are available through MaxPreps. You can follow the team here:
https://www.maxpreps.com/tx/carthage/carthage-bulldogs/soccer/boys/
The team’s progress, player highlights, and game results are regularly posted, offering a way to stay connected as the Bulldogs continue to rise.
In Summary:
The 2025 Carthage High School Boys Soccer season was one of transition, challenge, and promising potential. Guided by senior leadership and marked by the rise of underclassmen, the Bulldogs weathered injuries, adjusted on the fly, and gained critical experience that will pay dividends in seasons to come.
With nearly the entire starting lineup set to return, bolstered by incoming talent and a focused off-season training plan, the future is bright for Coach Lee Melton and the Carthage soccer program. The lessons of 2025 are already shaping the goals of tomorrow—and the Bulldogs are ready to chase them down.
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