The men’s soccer team’s senior night matchup against R.J. Reynolds was the Titans’ 20th game of the season. They had won an impressive total of 17 of those games, but even more impressively, they did so without team captain William Rodriguez. Before the season started, the senior striker broke his arm and was sidelined for a total of seven weeks.
“The hardest part about not playing was seeing all the work I put in the off season go to waste and not being able to be there for my teammates,” Rodriguez said.
With only four games left in the season, Rodriguez was cleared and was finally able to lace up in the green and gold against conference rival R.J. Reynolds Demons. Very quickly Rodriguez showcased his offseason work, and started his senior night off by scoring a goal before leading his team to a 2-0 victory.
“Everyone started cheering, I worked so hard for that so it felt really good… it’s my favorite soccer memory ever because it was the first time we played in front of a big crowd,” Rodriguez said.
He would also go on to score in the next game, and help his team to a 2-0 first round playoff win against Olympic High School before being eliminated in a heartbreaking double overtime loss to South Mecklenburg. However, his love for the game runs much deeper than Rodriguez’s short lived senior season.
“When I was eight my dad introduced me to soccer and I fell in love with it. By the time I turned 13 my brother in law started teaching me the game and different moves and I started to take it more seriously. They both played soccer too and they really taught me most of what I know,” Rodriguez said.
West Forsyth is Rodriguez’s favorite team he has played on for, and he acredits that to his teammates.
“This was the first team I’ve been a part of that has felt like brothers, like we are all really close for real. I’m going to miss all the bus rides with them, and I’m really going to miss scoring goals.”
It’s safe to say William Rodriguez will forever “bleed green.”

Fun Facts:
Favorite soccer player: Neymar
Favorite food: Chicken Alfredo
Best pregame song: 5x by Don Toliver
Funniest teammate: Mason, the team manager
If you could play any sport besides soccer professionally what would it be? “Basketball for sure, I’d play point guard; I already get buckets.”