After a big run last year in the OSSA state playoffs, the boys soccer team is hungry for another entry into the playoffs this season.
“Some of our hopes for the season are to have a great experience, to do our best and to compete in the PIL,” head coach Ugo Uche said, “To be successful in the PIL, we gotta be better defensively with our organization and our structure, as well as learning how to play together and moving the ball well around the field, so we can create more chances to score.”
The squad practiced very hard since last fall to prepare for this season.
“The team put in a lot of work this offseason getting in the weight room, spring ball, summer captains practices and just trying to develop some more chemistry and comradery,” Uche said.
Last year, the team was made up of mostly seniors, and with their absence, the team had to make an adjustment.
“A lot of the seniors that graduated cannot be replaced, but we have a great group of leaders and talented players that have experience that have the potential to help take this program to the next level,” Uche said.
Senior Eli White feels the impact of the absence of the seniors.
“It’s affected the morale more than the team,” White said. “It’s a hard loss without all the personalities on the team.”
With these empty spots, the younger players get a chance to develop.
“We want to give these younger guys an opportunity to show us what they can do and to be able to learn from the experiences and to learn from the game,” Uche said.
Sophomore Judah Ostrand sees this as motivating.
“The absence of the seniors really helped create new spots for new people to come in and fill those spots who are hungry to play for these positions,” Ostrand said.
Every season there are gonna be some players who come out of the gate and have a great season. Uche mentioned some players who might have the potential to do so.
“I would definitely keep an eye out for senior Lucas Johnson, for sophomore Emerson Albarran, and senior Eli White,” Uche said.
The boys soccer team recently got their first win of the season by beating Aloha 2-1.
