Boys soccer tryouts consist of two weeks: conditioning and technical skill. According to head boys soccer coach Chris Aiken, the high turnout for tryouts is a good signifer for a committed and successful season. “One thing that is exciting is our overall numbers trying out. This week we have been averaging 57 to 60 people a day,” Aiken said. “So these high numbers really help make it competitive and the more competitive it is usually leads to more success.” Photo by Rolando Garibay.
By SUNCANA PAVLIC – Digital Managing Editor
The varsity boys soccer team makes adjustments after the recent region change and loss of several key players of last season.
As February begins, the 2017 Clarke Central High School varsity boys soccer team prepares for the new season. Head varsity boys coach Chris Aiken notes even though the loss in last season’s seniors will impact the team’s structure, new players are ready step up in their absence.
“We graduated the four players that play right down the middle of the field. That’s really the heart of the team,” Aiken said. “We have some players that play for high level teams and so those players will step in and help right away. Players that came off the bench last year will become starters this year.”
Senior varsity boys soccer captain Ivan Ramirez believes the biggest impact on the team will be the loss of the team’s top goal scorers.
“The only difference is that we don’t have a reliable striker like last year so we will be trying out different people up top and having different game plans depending on who is striker,” Ramirez said.
According to Aiken, the region change raises the stakes on the road to qualifying for the state playoffs.
“There are less teams, which is a good thing, but the overall quality has improved. The change being it will be much more difficult to reach the playoffs,” Aiken said. “Based on last year, we made it to the Elite Eight, Buford made it to the Final Four, Johnson was the state runner-up, Flowery Branch made it to the Sweet 16 and Loganville made it to the Round of 32. So six out of seven teams made it to the playoffs, and five out of seven at least made it to the second round. Just competing for a playoff spot will be very difficult.”
Ramirez believes practices and conditioning will be the key to success this season. The varsity soccer teams will scrimmage against Archer High School on Feb. 2.
“We play Archer, and we played them last year for the first time. Practice will be taken more serious this year,” Ramirez said. “We will actually have to play hard and be serious about practice, something we didn’t have to worry about last year since we really were already set for success.”
