There’s no way around it: College Park had its fair share of struggles last season. But coach John Owens is optimistic that the adversity his players

faced will only benefit them as they try to get things turned around.

“The game is always the best teacher,” he said.

The Cavaliers finished last season with a 7-13-3 overall record and a 2-7-3 mark in District 14-5A. But they have several key players returning, and Owens sees the potential.

“We’ve got pretty high hopes for our group this year,” he said. “We’re bringing back some players that have played and have a lot of experience. They’ve been through the roller coaster, the ups and downs through the years. … We’re hoping to make a run into the playoffs and really be a factor in the district race one way or another. … I don’t think there’s a cap on what we could achieve.”

College Park will have some holes to fill, as most teams usually do, but two of the biggest vacancies were left by twin brothers Joel and Bryant Botello. Both were all-district selections last year, Joel at forward and Bryant at goalkeeper.