By Temi Oke - Sports Editor
Currently the DeLand High boys’ soccer team has six games left in the season and hoping finish off strong with positive results in each of them.
The team began the season with four consecutive games away from home, but this didn’t discourage the team from trying to start off from a good note. Of the four matches, the Bulldogs were victorious in three of them, including a 4-2 win against University High School in their district opener.
Of the team’s many games and achievements throughout the season, Coach Christopher Dowdell considered this win to be the greatest success of the season so far and attributed it to the team’s work ethic throughout the game. Dowdell said, “The boys earned it because they out-hustled University and played together both defensively and offensively.”
Though the boys started the season off on an amazing note, their progress since then hasn’t been up to par and they’ve received four losses, two wins, and a draw since their November 13 match against University. This leaves them with a 5-5-1 overall record, a 1-2-1 district record and a mixed feelings of emotions from the coaching staff as it pertains to the team’s overall work this season.
When speaking about the team’s progress and performances this year, Dowdell said, “I have mixed feelings about our season to this point. On one hand we’ve competed with some of the better teams for large stretches of matches. One the other, we’ve lost our composure at crucial times in games and left some positive results on the table because of it.”
In addition to this, Dowdell feels like the team needs improve their defending and also be more vibrant and creative when in the attack as a means of producing more goals, thus obtaining better results over the rest of the season.
With all that’s been said in mind, the boys’ soccer season may look bleak, with a very little shot of anything positive being taken out of the last six games, but this couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Though the team needs to continue to improve on defense, the team has continually put up greater defensive performances that exceed their work from last year.
In addition, when talking about the team’s mentality as they approach any game or obstacle in their way, Dowdell stated that “They are competitors and that is what motivates them. They don’t like to lose.” The team’s current goal is to compete for the district title and this mentality will be key if they hope to do so.
With all that’s been said, the boys currently have six games left in the season with four of them being home games. With the school behind their back, the sky is the limit for the boys’ soccer team, so make sure you come out and support the boys’ soccer team at Sperling Sports Complex.
The team began the season with four consecutive games away from home, but this didn’t discourage the team from trying to start off from a good note. Of the four matches, the Bulldogs were victorious in three of them, including a 4-2 win against University High School in their district opener.
Of the team’s many games and achievements throughout the season, Coach Christopher Dowdell considered this win to be the greatest success of the season so far and attributed it to the team’s work ethic throughout the game. Dowdell said, “The boys earned it because they out-hustled University and played together both defensively and offensively.”
Though the boys started the season off on an amazing note, their progress since then hasn’t been up to par and they’ve received four losses, two wins, and a draw since their November 13 match against University. This leaves them with a 5-5-1 overall record, a 1-2-1 district record and a mixed feelings of emotions from the coaching staff as it pertains to the team’s overall work this season.
When speaking about the team’s progress and performances this year, Dowdell said, “I have mixed feelings about our season to this point. On one hand we’ve competed with some of the better teams for large stretches of matches. One the other, we’ve lost our composure at crucial times in games and left some positive results on the table because of it.”
In addition to this, Dowdell feels like the team needs improve their defending and also be more vibrant and creative when in the attack as a means of producing more goals, thus obtaining better results over the rest of the season.
With all that’s been said in mind, the boys’ soccer season may look bleak, with a very little shot of anything positive being taken out of the last six games, but this couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Though the team needs to continue to improve on defense, the team has continually put up greater defensive performances that exceed their work from last year.
In addition, when talking about the team’s mentality as they approach any game or obstacle in their way, Dowdell stated that “They are competitors and that is what motivates them. They don’t like to lose.” The team’s current goal is to compete for the district title and this mentality will be key if they hope to do so.
With all that’s been said, the boys currently have six games left in the season with four of them being home games. With the school behind their back, the sky is the limit for the boys’ soccer team, so make sure you come out and support the boys’ soccer team at Sperling Sports Complex.