Metea Valley’s Erick Mena felt a particular shock to his system.
His sophomore and junior soccer seasons were jammed together due to the pandemic, playing in the spring and fall only months apart during a frenetic 2021 calendar year.
“That environment my sophomore year was just a whole other game,” Mena said. “I struggled the first couple of games. I was small for my age, but I also saw the potential.
“I kept giving it my all. My coaches and teammates pushed me, and I became the player I am now.”
The senior forward adapted on the fly, learning how to utilize his speed, quickness and dribbling to become a highly effective player on offense.
As a junior last season, Mena finished with six goals and eight assists. He ended up earning all-conference and all-area recognition.
“Now,” he said, “I play without any fear.”
With the graduation of Missouri State recruit Colin Bastianoni, Metea’s leading scorer last season, Mena is the face of the program.
He has gladly taken the baton.
“Colin gave me a big challenge to fill with all of the goals he scored,” Mena said. “He definitely made me a better player, and I am going to take on the leadership role.”
With the return of four starters and three rotation players, the Mustangs are primed to make a run in Class 3A. And Mena is the catalyst.
The developmental process has been crucial to that growth.
“Erick got pulled up to varsity as a sophomore and injected energy into a really tough season,” Metea coach Josh Robinson said. “His maturity is years beyond his actual age.
“It shows with his ability to be crafty in one-on-one scenarios and combine with his teammates.”
Mena’s excellent ballhandling and ability to create and work off the dribble are crystal clear.
But his impact is felt in different ways, a connective thread that binds the different pieces together, according to senior defender Aiden Pufundt.
“Erick’s knowledge on the field when he has the ball is impeccable,” Pufundt said. “He moves around defenders like it’s nothing. He will never give up on a play, always works back from the other side.
“Overall, he is a phenomenal player.”
Senior forward Adrian Gonzalez praised Mena’s team-oriented mentality and take-charge attitude.
“Erick is a very passionate individual,” Gonzalez said. “He loves to set his teammates to a high standard and support them to get there.”
Mena said the team motivation has never been higher, especially since June, when the Metea girls captured their first state championship in program history.
At that time, Mena took in all the action of the state final games at North Central College.
It set the template.
“What the girls did has motivated me a lot,” he said. “I told all of my teammates we have to step it up and be at the same level as them.”
Robinson, who earned a state medal as an assistant coach for the girls team, saw the impact on Mena. It brought his game to another level.
“He is the most down to earth, hardworking kid who prioritizes family and community,” Robinson said.
Growing up in Auora, Mena took the game up on his own volition.
He played club soccer for the first time last year, honing his skills playing on the fast surfaces of indoor facilities during the winter.
“That’s why I like playing the right wing,” Mena said. “I like doing all of that creative stuff like crossing, cutting and shooting.
“I just like to see my parents, coaches and teammates proud. I don’t want to let them down.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
