Mustangs seeded No. 1 in Pepsi Showdown
Berwyn, IL — MORTON AT A GLANCE
Nickname Mustangs
Conference West Suburban Gold
Home field Morton West, 26th Street and Harlem Avenue, Berwyn
2009 results 3rd in WSG; regional champs
Coach Mike Caruso
Top returners
Kenny Kuzinski sr. GK
Toribio Romo sr. D
Hector Ibarra sr. D
Xavier Corona sr. D
Ivan Chavez sr. M
Joel Salmaron jr. F
Pedro Barrera sr. D
Juan Garcia sr. M
Jose Montes sr. M
Octavio Garcia sr. F
Abel Guzman so. F
Promising newcomers
Brian Tapia jr. M
Edgar Garcia fr. M
GAMES TO WATCH
Sept. 2 Red Devil Cup Mustangs kick off tournament against Brother Rice
Sept. 7 at Pepsi Showdown Morton has No. 1 seed in highly touted tourney
Oct. 7 vs. Downers Grove South Conference title could be on the line
OUTLOOK
Each season, it’s always been the same approach for the Morton boy’s soccer team. Win the West Suburban Gold Conference and get to the state tournament. The Mustangs have won nine conference titles and qualified for the state tournament twice under seventh-year head coach Mike Caruso. If those expectations are not met this season, then 2010 could be viewed as a disappointment. Already, Morton is seeded No. 1 in the highly regarded Pepsi Showdown.
“The kids know that they’re worthy of being seeded where they are,” Caruso said. “Now they get the chance to prove it.”
The Mustangs return seven starters — Kuzinski, Romo, Corona, Chavez, Salmaron, Barrera and Montes — from last year’s team which won the program’s sixth regional title under Caruso. They also have others that contributed as well in 2009 with Ibarra, Juan Garcia, Octavio Garcia and Guzman adding experience. Kuzinski earned a majority of the starts in goal toward the tail end of last season. Caruso said he is poised for a big year.
“He should be ready and will be a big help,” Caruso said. “He played well down the stretch, so hopefully that carries over.”
Caruso said this is the fastest team he’s had at Morton. His challenge will be to get the group to translate its ability into an elite brand of soccer.
“We have the skill, it comes down to doing the right things mentally,” Caruso said. “We need to play our game consistently instead of playing in spurts.”
