TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Over the past few seasons, McFarland has been one of the most improved soccer teams in the area, and this year is no exception.

A pair of fiery forwards are a big reason.

Newly arrived junior Alex Mendez and senior Miguel Lastra have keyed a big turnaround for the Cougars (20-5-2), combining for 60 of the team's league-leading 100 goals in 2011.

Mendez, who was a defender as a freshman and didn't play at all his sophomore year, has scored a team-best 40 goals from just about every possible scenario. None of those goals, however, compare to the ultimate goal of bringing home a Central Section championship.

"I really don't keep track of my stats," said Mendez, whose goal total is first in the East Sierra League and second in the section at 1.6 per game

"I only think about winning a Valley title," he said.

As remarkable as Mendez's numbers are, he is still nine goals shy of catching up to Lastra, who rolled up an eye-popping 45 goals in 2010. That monstrous total ranked in the Central Section's all-time top 10.

Lastra added 17 assists and led the third-seeded Cougars to the Division VI section title game for the first time before being held scoreless for just the fifth time in 26 games in a 2-1 loss to top-seeded Mendota in 2011.

"I felt good last season because 45 goals is a lot," Lastra said. "But I didn't feel all that happy at the end, because we didn't win Valley and those goals all felt like they were in vain."

After playing in the Cougars' first two games this season, Lastra was sidelined while recovering from ankle surgery.

He missed 12 games before returning to the lineup two games into league play and has picked up right where he left off, netting 20 goals and eight assists. His goal total ranks second in the ESL and seventh in the section.

"I feel about 95 percent right now," said Lastra, whose role this season has been that of a set-up man. "This year I missed some games, but my goal is to get healthy, show the team I am back, and win Valley."

That's an ambition also shared by McFarland coach Jose Gonzalez.

"Winning a Valley championship would be a great accomplishment for the school and the kids," said Gonzalez, who has won three East Sierra League titles during his 9-year tenure at McFarland. "This team is hungry after making it to the finals last year and losing. after getting a taste of it, they want it really bad."

If regular-season results are any indication, this might be McFarland's best chance yet to grab a section title. The Cougars have some impressive wins against quality opponents -- including SWYL leader Independence, Centennial, SSL champion Wasco, Mira Monte and Shafter -- and returned a good nucleus of talent from last year's squad.

With a ton of firepower that has produced staggering results like a 16-0 win over Kern Valley and a 10-0 over Orange Cove, one has to wonder if McFarland can be denied.

Then again, maybe there's just something in the water in northern Kern County: Delano's Oscar Torres also is among the section leaders in goals, with 33.

But the Cougars, outscoring their opponents 100-11 this season, also are playing solid defense, having shutout the opposing team 18 times.

"We have a lot of great players this year," Lastra said. "We have a solid defense and a good middle that passes the balls up to the forwards so we can get the job done.

"They can take some of the pressure off to allow us to play better."

Another dimension to the Cougars' game this season is better communication and more confidence, Gonzalez said.

"The whole team is playing together and are relying on each other much better," he said. " Last year, I think they may have been a little intimidated, but the attitudes have changed and they have gotten more serious about school and soccer."

Certainly, the duo of Mendez and Lastra has buoyed a lot of the Cougars' new-found self-assurance. Despite the tremendous statistical success each has had this year, neither would be quite as effective if he wasn't playing with the other.

Gonzalez said having two or more talented, determined players on the same team is nothing new, but getting them to work together the way Lastra and Mendez are capable of is something special.

And the two couldn't agree more.

"It's good to have Miguel back," Mendez said. "We communicate well and play good together, and he helps my game."

As for Lastra, he's happy to have some goal-scoring help. Last year, his 45 goals represented more than half of the team's total, and no other Cougar had more than 12.

"Alex is a good player, and he helps me and the team out for sure," Lastra said. "He is my good friend and partner at the forward position."

That chemistry is pretty remarkable, considering the pair had only played together in limited time as freshmen and in a local improvised park league in McFarland before coming into this year's high school soccer season.

Nevertheless, McFarland's dynamic duo is turning heads, and it doesn't take long to see that they are serious about securing another chance at a championship that either will have a hand in -- or more appropriately a foot -- in winning.