Delaney: Brothers add spark, spontaneity to Mustangs

Tayron Ixlaj and his brother Darvin Juarez, forwards on the Mount Markham boys soccer team, change the game when they are on the field for the Mustangs. The boys, who are originally from Guatemala, have speed, skill, instincts and a touch on the ball unlike their American counterparts.

 

The only thing Tayron, junior, and Darvin, a freshman, don't have is size. Neither boy is taller than about 5-foot-5 and they can be knocked off the ball.  But when Tayron, 17, and the 14-year-old Darvin have the ball on their feet, they are in complete control and beautiful to watch. The brothers play at a rapid pace with crisp passes to the space where they expect their teammates to be.

 

"Last year we were OK," said Mount Markham senior defender Brad Kobler. "But with those two, we've come together."