Friday, August 08, 2008
With the Dawson Springs boys’ varsity soccer program beginning its second year, coach Randall Campbell feels the young program now has the opportunity to have a “banner year.”
The Panthers recorded just one win in their first season, but now with seven seniors, the team has nowhere to go but up.
“Every sports team in Dawson Springs has a banner hanging up in the gym except our boys soccer team,” Campbell said. “It’s only our second varsity season, but we want a banner.”
Now with a year of experience to reflect upon, Campbell said the team can progress beyond the fundamentals.
“The best benefit this year is we’re smarter about soccer,” he said. “We understand the game much better. Last year we had to learn how to kick a ball, just the basic parts of kicking a ball. This year we can work on passing and communication.”
In addition to another year of experience, the program also grew from a total of 18 varsity and junior varsity players to 28, led by the seven seniors.
Seniors Carson Labrado and Zach Chappell will lead the team as co-captains.
For some programs, players with the highest stats may be picked as captains, but for Dawson Springs the titles were given to those that exhibit true leadership, regardless of goals or assists.
“For us, we’re not here just to win here this year,” Campbell said. “We’re here to build a program and I need captains who are going to instill in my younger players the great qualities that they are going to be great people of character.”
Chappell, in just his second year of soccer, said he is already noticing improvement from his teammates.
“We’ve been working on plays actually and passing more,” he said. “Last year it was like give the ball to one person to shoot and see if they’re open.”
Senior goalie Alan Higbee may not have the same experience, but he is also excited about the Panthers’ opportunities to improve.
“This is my first year playing soccer and I feel confident truthfully,” he said.
Campbell said Higbee has shown great progress during the summer practices and will be an integral part of the team’s success.
“Alan Higbee has come along,” he said. “He looks good. He’s developing into a smart goalie for me.”
Others who are expected to make big contributions will be juniors Aaron Labrado and Jacob Patton up front.
After scoring just 16 goals in 18 games last season, Campbell said he feels confident the team will have greater offensive firepower.
“Offensively we’re going to score some more goals than last year,” he said. “We have five offensive players that are going to take the ball really, really well.
“We have a number of players that are going to assist. We have some good speed and smartness there.”
Defensively, Chappell and fellow senior Nick Gogel will bring up the back.
Jonathan Snell will replace one of two seniors that graduated from Dawson Springs’ inaugural boys soccer team.
“He’s got the speed in the back and he’s got the aggressiveness to not care if he gets knocked flat on the ground,” Campbell said. “He’s going after somebody. He’s going to take care of things.”
The 2008 squad will also feature veteran experience from Beth Anne Dickens and Emilee Workman, who played last season for the girls’ varsity team.
The boys admitted the girls bring tenacious attitudes and great ball-handling skills that will no doubt help the team.
While Dawson Springs may have some individual players to rely upon this year, acting as one will be the team’s key to a successful season, Campbell said.
“Communication has been what we worked on since day one this summer,” he said. “They know how to talk to each other and how to say it and how to work as a team.”
This season may be just the program’s second ever, but Campbell isn’t afraid to aim high.
“My greatest ambition is eight wins,” he said. “We’re one team with one goal this year, that’s our motto. “
Dawson Springs begins its second season with a scrimmage Tuesday at home against Heritage Christian Academy.
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