Thursday, October 1, 2026
Many are called but few are chosen for Freeport boys’ soccer, which received more than 100 prospective players at the JV and varsity levels in a typically busy round of summer tryouts. The Red Devils will look to take advantage of their strength in numbers after a disappointing finish in 2024.
“There’s a lot of interest in the district for soccer,” coach Craig Klasson said. “I wish I could have multiple teams, but unfortunately, we have to be selective with it. They really love it. It’s part of their identity. They take a lot of pride in representing the high school and their community.”
Despite earning a 7-6-4 overall record in 2024, Freeport struggled more in a vaunted Conference AAA, going 4-6-3 and missing the playoffs. As Klasson continues working with a “young and eager group” in a long-term approach, the goal is simply to get sharper with experience.
“There is not one easy game that we look at on our schedule,” Klasson said. “Every single game, it will be very, very competitive and we'll look to be in the top of that seeding when it’s all said and done, but it's going to take a lot of work and we have to take one game at a time.”
The Red Devils’s youthful outlook begins at the top, as Klasson described junior midfielder Kevin Leon as their “heartbeat” on the pitch. Having earned All-County Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore, Leon has already earned a reputation for his sharp instincts and is quickly becoming a leader on a relatively young roster.
Freeport only has eight seniors, but midfielder Emerson Molina has been growing into a leadership position for years and will be invaluable to younger players. Klasson praised the two-time All-Conference player for his versatility. Not only is he expected to be a leading scorer, but he has also been an effective distributor and physical defender as needed. Leon and Molina will be joined by sophomore Nicholas Leguizamon, who will step into a midfield role with plenty of upside.
Just as Molina is expected to maximize his presence as a senior on a younger roster in the midfield, David Menjivar will take on a similar role among the forwards. The senior started last year and will take over as a key striker alongside sophomore Jesus Sorto, who has shown glimpses of consistent scoring ability early on.
The offense will rely heavily on a handful of seniors and younger talent, but the defense is expected to be more solid. Seniors Jose Molina and Carlos Bustos are both rock-solid defenders returning to familiar roles. Molina will often be called upon to mark the other team’s best player, while Bustos will take on a piloting role at center-back.
“We hope that that experience will help drive them and the younger players around them to make sure that we defend well,” Klasson said.
Freeport’s goalkeeper will be junior Kley Corado, a first-time starter who will step up to face several tough opponents in Conference AAA. He made 6 saves in a season-opening 1-0 victory over Hicksville last Friday. He is yet another player with something to prove for the Red Devils in a year that will be defined by their ability to step up.
