Looking to Build Off of Last Year’s Success: JCHS Boys Soccer
The JCHS boys varsity soccer team is off to a strong 7-3-2 start this season, despite losing several top players from last year's squad. We spoke with head coach Mr. Pollock to get his perspective on the team's performance so far.
While a record of 7-3-2 would have been cause for celebration in years past, expectations are elevated for this talented group. "We have a lot of high expectations this year," said Pollock. Thanks to their stellar play, the team finds itself still within striking distance of the BCL Regular Season Championship with pivotal games ahead. The team’s other goals include winning the BCL tournament and NCS Division 3 championship. In the words of Coach Pollock, “We have a good shot of getting the number two seed [in the BCL], and then anything can happen”.
According to Pollock, the team is doing many things well but needs to focus on "playing together as one unit." He points to disjointed play at times, with players waiting around for the ball rather than making supporting runs. “We do a good job of winning a lot of one-on-one battles, but that's not how the game of soccer is ultimately played,” Pollock noted.
The team suffered major losses from last season, including League MVP Yoni Aharon and 1st Team All-League goalkeeper Akiva Pelta. However, Pollock believes the current roster has even more depth across the board. Standout senior leadership, along with talented underclassmen now seeing playing time on JV have both helped fill the void left by last year’s seniors.
With the new JV program, there is a lot to look forward to. While a bit crowded at practices, split JV and Varsity squads allow for valuable in-game experience. “Having a JV team where especially younger kids can get experience in game situations is going to make us a much, much stronger program moving forward.” In past years, players were not given the chance to develop with only eleven spots available on the field. This year, there are six JV games which allows for all 31 players to receive playing time and improve more meaningfully than ever before.
Pollock credits the senior captains with setting the tone and looks for the team to gel as the season progresses. If the players can come together and trust one another, Pollock believes any of the team's lofty goals are within reach. As JCHS strives to shake off its reputation as a weak school for sports, soccer is leading the charge.
