As this year’s men’s soccer team takes the field, they are led by captain and defensive guru Josh Burns. As a four-year player in his second year as captain, Burns realizes the potential of the players on the field: “I believe that reaching that potential means winning our regional championship and going to the national tournament,” he said.
Players have come into this season in excellent condition. The offseason was not just about conditioning but “also about improving our skills as players so that we came back to school… ready to play as a team,” said Burns.
Upperclassmen set the defensive core of seniors Josh Burns and Nate Nearpass, and junior Alan Walker. In the offensive, watch out for the younger players. The leading scorers on the team during the first two weeks were sophomore T.J. Pearce and freshman Sami Amis. Two other players to watch are freshman Kujim Rushiti and junior Tyler Cox.
Junior midfielder Thad Nichols, one of the five players on the team to score in the first two games, states that “we are two deep at most every position and some even three.” So fans can come to the games expecting to see playing time for many of the players and some changeups in positions.
“We can field most players in a variety of roles,” Nichols said. With this mix of depth and skills, Nichols sees the same season goal as Burns: “Anything short of nationals will be a disappointment to us all.”
If the tantalizing prospect of watching an amazing display of soccer skills does not bring people to the games, hopefully the team’s heart for ministry will encourage fellow students to come out and encourage them.
Each time they step foot on the field, they understand that they are ambassadors for Christ. “We represent something more than just ourselves, or our school, we represent Christ,” said Burns. It is not just a cliché for the men on this team; it is a conscious effort. “We have to constantly remember that as we face our opponents.”
Article by Benjamin Murray. Courtesy of the Moody Standard, Volume 75:1, September 15, 2009.