While many spring sports athletic fields were unplayable Monday, the turf soccer field at Montague Park was in perfect condition for Chattanooga Prep’s varsity boys’ soccer team to continue making its presence felt this season.
The Sentinels improved to 10-0 on their friendly confines, where third-year head coach Carlos De La Cerda’s team has now outscored opponents 49-8 after taking down Tyner by a decisive 6-1 final score in the Region 3-1A semifinals.
After Chatt Prep secured its first district championship last week with a 3-2 victory over Arts & Sciences, De La Cerda’s powerful group will have a chance to claim a region title this Thursday against the winner of the CSAS and CSLA game.
“These guys have been playing at the Highland Park Commons since they were very young,” said De La Cerda, whose team starts all underclassmen. “Their technical ability has been there even when I got them as eighth graders and freshmen two years ago. It was obvious what they were capable of.
Chattanooga Prep vs. Tyner boys’ soccer on May 12, 2025
“But we needed those first two seasons to get humbled and dragged a bit to see that they require each other and look better when they are together. This season has shown glimpses of what they can become. The small details they are learning in real time are things they can also take into other areas of their lives as well.”
Leading the charge for the Sentinels (14-5-1), who are ranked inside the top 10 Class 1A boys’ soccer teams in the state by MaxPreps, is junior star Adrick Hall.
Hall is an imposing force on the fútbol field as the 6-foot, 175-pound forward has delivered 35 goals this season, which includes eight in Chatt Prep’s first three postseason victories. Hall is fast, physical and shifty, while his size also allows him to win balls in the air and use his head to find the back of the net along with his strong boot.
Not only does Hall shine on the soccer turf, he’s also the varsity placekicker for Chatt Prep’s successful prep football program and owns a career-best 50-yard field goal make.
“We knew this year was going to be our time to shine,” Hall said. “We just have to play together and focus on the important details, big and small, that can help us get to where we want to go. When we play collectively as a whole and not as an individual, we are hard to beat. Tre (Sales), Victor (Fuentes) and Aaron (Perez) have all been key playmakers in our attack and we have worked together well.”
The Sentinels love to play quick out of the back, where junior centerback Emmanuel Perez helps lead the team with his assertiveness and attentiveness.
“When we keep our composure and communicate well, while also having a strong mentality, that makes us a great team,” Perez said. “I take pride in being a captain on this team and always try to talk to all the players. We all want to be on the same page and take this season as far as it can go.”
With a win in Thursday’s region finals, which will be on the road, the Sentinels would return home to Montague Park for Saturday’s sectional round with a chance to advance to the Spring Fling.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.