EDINBURG — Edinburg High’s Miguel Solis admits he isn’t the fastest or most skilled player on the pitch. Still, the Bobcats’ senior forward won’t let that slow him down.
“I want to win. I hate losing, so I’m going to do whatever it takes to put my team on my back,” Solis said. “If you need a goal, I’m going to get the job done. I feel like I can create plays. Once I create the play, I’m going to do it all to finish it also.”
Solis used a relentless attitude and a physical style of play to bully his way past defenses this season. Solis notched 26 goals in 28 appearances, leading the Bobcats to a 21-7 overall record, including a 13-3 mark during District 31-6A play.
He is The Monitor’s 2022 All-Area Offensive Player of the Year.
“It feels good. It’s a great accomplishment,” Solis said. “To have people know, like your family and friends, know you’re the offensive player of the year, it feels good to have it.”
Solis found himself in a new home this season, spending his first three seasons with intracity rival Edinburg Vela before transferring to Edinburg High.
The transition was near seamless, Solis said, having known several of the players from his days playing youth soccer.
During his first season with the Bobcats, Solis served as the team’s top offensive threat, netting 16 goals to lead the Bobcats to second place in the district. His 16 district goals ranked second in District 31-6A and fourth in the Valley this year.
Solis credits his dad and head coach, Luis Cardenas, for his success this season.
“My dad used to train me when I was little. He’s always been with me, taking me everywhere like camps and practices,” Solis said. “Also, my head coach. My game has a lot to do with confidence. I need confidence in myself to play good. When I feel like I’m playing bad, I’m going to play bad. When I’m feeling like I’m playing good and everybody is telling me that I am, I just play better. So, honestly, Coach Cardenas did that for me.”
Past individual goals, Solis had his eyes set on getting to the playoffs for the first time in his career, never having advanced while at Edinburg Vela.
The Bobcats advanced to the Class 6A bi-district round, falling short of an area-round appearance after a 2-1 loss to Donna North.
“I wanted to make it far in the playoffs,” Solis said. “We didn’t get to accomplish that goal since we lost in the first round. But other than that, individually, I think I accomplished everything I wanted to.”
With his high school career behind him, Solis has his focus set on his collegiate career, recently signing to play soccer at Texas Lutheran, a Division III university in Seguin.
“I know I most likely won’t play during my first year,” Solis said. “It’s going to be hard, but the goal is to mesh with the team and get better as the years go by.”
