Lake View Chiefs Ride 19-Game Unbeaten Streak Entering Playoffs

After finishing district play at a perfect 18-0, the Chiefs enter the playoffs with another district title and a 19-game unbeaten streak. The closest Lake View has come to losing since Jan. 2 was a 2-2 tie against Abilene Cooper last Tuesday.

"The Lord has been good to us this year," head coach Kyle Jones said in an interview on Thursday. "The guys from four years ago set this foundation. To see it continue year after year, all glory goes to God."

Lake View opened the year with back-to-back losses to talented Bridgeport and Navasota teams. The Chiefs haven't lost since.

Leading the way for Lake View this season is senior forward Jeremy Zavala. His 26 goals are a team-best, and he's the focal point of the Chiefs' offense.

"Jeremy has been big for us all year," Jones said. "Especially when we were down in Snyder. He came back in the second half and tied the game for us before taking the lead late."

Much of Zavala's offensive success can be attributed to Ulises Chavez, who leads the team in assists with 18.

"Chavez is the backbone of the team," Jones said of his junior midfielder. "He really sets up our offense. He's a goal scorer in his own right but sets up a lot of goals through the midfield."

On the other side of the field, three guys anchor Lake View on defense — Izaiah Rios, Evan Gallegos and Rob Engle. Jones contributed many of the shutouts that Lake View has this season to the Chiefs' tough defense led by Rios.

Finally, in goal, goalkeeper Sebastian Heredia acts as a field general for the rest of the team. Jones said that his communication is key. He sees the entire field and has the respect and trust of every person on the field to listen to what he says when he calls it out. With this defensive core, Lake View shut out 14 teams this season and looks to do that again against El Paso Austin on Friday.

The Chiefs match up with a talented El Paso Austin squad that finished the year 15-9 and in fourth place in their district. Do not be fooled by the fourth-place finish. In El Paso soccer, fourth place was earned out of a 10-team district full of talent. While Lake View should definitely be favored in this matchup, the Chiefs need to be in top form to guarantee a win.

"When you get into the playoffs, everything has to go your way," Jones said. "Successful teams make that happen. The only thing that can stop this team is ourselves."