The boys varsity soccer season has begun. Despite the lack of senior leadership on the team this year, hopes are high for the 2014-2015 season.
With high school practices taking off, players must make the transition from club team playing styles to work cohesively as a team.
“In the off-season, we play with a variety of club teams,” said junior Brent Jang. “We are learning each other’s different playing styles and adjusting to work together as a high school team.”
Juniors constitute a majority of the team, with last year’s graduated athletes leaving just one senior playing this season. Lowerclassmen additions such as sophomore Brett Fitzpatrick are determined to rise to the varsity level of play this year.
“Varsity is going to be more challenging than junior varsity (JV) because the speed of play is faster and games are more physical,” said Fitzpatrick.
Seasoned players welcome the lowerclassmen with open arms.
“This year, we have a lot of young talent moving up from junior varsity, and one returning senior,” said junior and goalie Jacob Segal. “It will be a rebuilding year, but I think we have the potential to be a strong team.”
The team is still in its early stages of practice, but all players are looking to become Central Coast Section (CCS) champions. In the 2013-2014 season, the team lost to Watsonville in the Division I semi-final game.
“We like to take our games one at a time, but in the long term we’d like to take the team to CCS and get farther than last year’s semi-final,” said Jang.
Junior Malcolm McClellan said, “I plan on putting the team on my back so we should do just as well if not better than last year.”
