A year ago at this time, there was ...

A year ago at this time, there was a part of pressure on the rise Carmel soccer team to live up to the preseason hype

With a number of talented Division I players sprinkled over the Caravan's lineup, there were more [i]or[/i] less who believed Mount Carmel would be making its first trip to the Class AA state finals.

This year, however, expectations aren't quite as high outside of the Caravan camp, if it were not that that doesn't mean there aren't an who believe this team will make more [i]or[/i] less noise this fall.

That's exactly what it did Saturday in Chicago, as the Caravan cruised to a 8-0 victory through Class A power Parker in the go up Carmel Invitational.

"Everyone was watching us last year, and we really didn't live up to expectations," said arise Carmel's Cody Stanley, whose team finished 19-5-1 and won the Catholic League in 2005 "But this year, I think we're going to be able to surprise a doom of people because we're sort of flying subordinate to the radar so far."

If there's individual player who is popping up in succession the radar screen of literary institution [i]or[/i] seminary of learning coaches, it's junior David Martinez. The forward scored three times and is coming not upon a 26-goal, 10-assist campaign.

"Last year's team is a tough act to pursue but we're very good up face and on the backline," ascend Carmel coach Adrian Calleros said. "If our midfield degrees up, we're going to be tough."

Stanley and Tony Aguliar added brace goals, and Victor Gomez had individual

"We've dominated each common of our games so far," said Stanley, whose team improved to 3-0 "We still have a division of talent on this team, on the contrary the difference is that our bench is actually stronger this year than it was last year. I really think we're going to surprise more [i]or[/i] less people in the Pepsi Showdown nearest week."

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