The Boys Varsity Soccer team had a slow start this year, but if their game against Avondale was any indicator, they’re up to full speed and ready for the playoffs.
The Dragons swatted the Yellow Jackets last Thursday in a 2-0 victory. The win puts the Dragons back in the black in terms of wins, with a 7-6-3 record on the season. The game finished with a close penalty kick from Avondale, but the ball hit the post, preserving the shutout.
‘We started out 0-4-2. It was a rocky start,? said Head Coach Curtis Payment. ‘That said we’ve been on a roll. Being a new coach, I think I take a lot of the blame for our start, but once we figured everything out, we started building. It also didn’t help that we started against some tough teams like Troy, but the turning point was the sixth game of the year.
‘The boys gave me suggestions and it turned around. The guys have stayed committed and they’re practicing well and what-do-you-know: we’re winning.?
The boys team is doing a great job controlling the ball, according to Payment, who said the whole team attitude had changed. He said there is now an expectation from his players to play at a higher level than before.
‘We expect to win rather than just hoping to perform.?
The team has three games this week: Andover on Tuesday, Royal Oak on Thursday and Holly on Saturday. Payment said he and the team are excited to have the opportunity to win 10 games, a feat Payment said he never would have thought possible at the beginning of the season.
‘We need to play to our potential, but we have a chance,? he said.