As soccer season kicks off the boys’ varsity team has many goals this season individually, and as a whole including ways to prepare while they reach for success for the remaining season ahead of them.
A big goal for the players is to make it to state, and Head coach Nicholas Webster said finishing games is extremely important and something they need to work on as a team.
In the past they have gotten very close to finishing games but end up losing by just a pinch. “We want to really finish those games because as a program we can compete with anybody, we can really beat anybody,” Webster said.”
The team is currently ranked 14 and a possible state contender early in the season, however “it’s just a number,” Webster said.
Mental success is a big part of sports as well, same being the way the coaches carry themselves. Webster said that the boys are going to be a reflection of him, and that is something he has worked on in the offseason.
Trying to keep the energy up too is huge for him. All of these things can determine how players react or perform on and off the field. “Trying to control my frustration, my emotions, and my actions on the sideline that way everyone can stay calm and controlled,” he said. Something the team has always had for the past few years has been chemistry, described by Webster as a real emphasis on the family environment and a brotherly type of love that epitomizes them.
The players first began bonding at the OHA soccer club, in which the boys competed and traveled with their teammates. Most of the soccer team participated leading up to this season. It helped them develop skills all around, getting them ready to transition the skills into the school soccer games.
Senior Juan Balbuena-Rodriguez said it was good for the guys as they gained chemistry playing at OHA. “The club really helped me a lot as a player, mentally and physically,” he said.
Rodriguez plans to make it to state, be at least top five in the state, and continue doing what he has been doing as a player.
Last year the team finished their regular season 13-5. Junior forward Siidi Adan was their top goal scorer with 12 total goals. Adan plans to improve and make it to state this year. He has hopes to be the top leading goal scorer again. He reflects on last year and wants to be better this year.
“People expect a lot from me, and I’m not really giving them what they want but we still have a long season ahead of us, so I still have time,” Adan said. He was also named “Player of the match” of their most recent game vs Papillion La-vista
The team currently sits at 6-3 with many more games to go.
Last year the Omaha central soccer team finished their regular season 13-5
