Now that the fall season is coming to an end, it’s time for some new sports teams! Among the winter sports is Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Varsity Boys Soccer team. This team, composed of returning players and new faces, will be getting ready for their season. From practice to team building, here’s a little more about this team.

The AHS Varsity Boys Soccer team’s lineup consists of dedicated players like juniors Wesley Chen and Oniel Pacheco. With a majority of them being seniors and juniors, this season is as important as ever.

“Our greatest strength as a team is our attitude. We all know that we have difficult games ahead of us, but we are keeping a positive attitude and are determined to do our best,” said Chen.

As their time in high school draws to a close, these players must make their time on the soccer team as memorable as possible. To do so, the players strive to have fun on the field and bring home those wins. To make sure they’re at the top of their game, the boys have started practice, from drills to scrimmages to conditioning. Their schedule pre-season includes practice until 3:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. The boys start with warm-ups and stretches, followed by passing drills and scrimmages.

In the past, the team has had quite some ups and downs. With fierce determination and spirit, the Varsity Boys Soccer team, unfortunately, ended last season with a record of 0-6. Whatever defeats the boys have experienced only make them stronger; they are set on making an amazing comeback. According to some of the members, the boys feel most proficient in their athleticism and attitude on and off the field. They also express how they are weak in areas like communication.

Chen, the captain, gave insight on his experience on the team: “As the captain, I enjoy being able to call the shots with respect to the coach and to give players tips that can greatly improve their game. My personal goal this upcoming year, whether it is D1, D2, or D3, is to get recruited by a college that has both great academics and soccer.”

Additionally, Pacheco expressed that his personal goal is to “improve [his] fitness and [his] confidence with the ball.”

To most of the players, the goal for this season is to make the California Interscholastic Federation. The team hopes that they are able to devise new play ideas, improve the distribution of the ball, and rely on other teammates more often. Once their season starts, there will be many challenging games, but the Varsity Boys Soccer team will play what they love to the end, as a team.

Photo by JCOMP on FREEPIK.COM