As the clock dwindles down and Menlo trails Los Gatos High School 4-3 in the CCS Division II boys soccer semifinal match, it seems senior striker Sandro Velazquez’s free kick attempt may be the team’s last opportunity. Standing nearly 40 yards away from the goal, Velazquez takes a deep breath before he bends the ball around the Los Gatos wall, past the goalie and into the net to tie the game. Although the Knights were ultimately defeated 13-12 in penalties, this moment wasn’t the only time Velazquez has stepped up for the team.

In his final season in the program, Velazquez helped lead Menlo’s varsity boys soccer team to a 15-3-4 record and a West Bay Athletic League title. With team highs of 21 goals and 13 assists, Velazquez was named Midfielder of the Year for the WBAL.

Velazquez attributes his individual and the team’s success to the strong dynamic they were able to cultivate this season. “In my role as a captain, I really wanted to prioritize leadership while being a reliable teammate,” he said. “I think the trust and bonds that we formed gave our group the chemistry we needed on the field.”

Varsity boys soccer head coach Daniel Hicker is incredibly grateful that he was able to coach Velazquez for the past two years and see how he has grown as a person and player. “The maturity and leadership that he has demonstrated, along with the wonderful things he can do on the field certainly have helped set a standard for our program moving forward.”

Velazquez is currently pursuing a career at the next level with the help of Hicker and the Menlo soccer program. “As the guys would say, he’s become a bit of a legend for our program, so I am definitely excited to see what he could potentially bring to a [college] program in the future,” Hicker said.