While winning is typically the main objective in any sport, there is one more thing that athletes and teams alike strive for greatly, that being dominance. Dominance entails being superior and succeeding so often that everyone else is constantly chasing behind you; no matter what sport you compete in, everybody wants to be the one to beat. This has been the story for the boys soccer team’s 2023 as they completed an incredible regular season by recapturing the Central Piedmont Conference (CPC) championship. This accomplishment, however, would soon be overshadowed as the team finished undefeated for the first time in program history, not allowing a single scratch on their 19-0-2 record.
“This team has been able to find a knack for winning games; they have been able to put teams away early as well as put teams away late, they have been through four overtimes in conference and were able to grit it out and score. Last season’s hardships really helped them learn,” head coach Jeffery Williams said.
This immaculate Titans team was heavy in experience with all but three of its players being upperclassmen, including seven seniors. Senior Captains Grant Tally and Andrew Green, who have matured as players since the beginning of their high school careers, helped lead the charge towards this historic achievement.
“Lots of them have been through the playoffs before and won conference championships. They’ve also been through bad seasons like last year’s and have been able to grow from that and work better as a team,” Williams said
The boys soccer team didn’t have this undefeated season simply fall in their lap, however, as lots of hard work and effort both before and during the course of the season had to be put in to reach that level.
“The team never gave up, even when playing down a goal we always pushed the level up and found a way to win. Coach Williams was a key part of this, pushing us to be better every practice and forcing us to be the most fit players on the field at all times,” senior Nolan Terlecki said.
While the regular season may be over, the Titans still have plenty of work ahead of them in state playoffs, where the team will look to continue its season-long success. Despite having dominated the CPC for many years, the boys soccer team has yet to claim a state championship. Riding the wave of their unbeaten run, the hope is that this season will be the year that the Titans breakthrough and finally capture the state title.
“We’re looking to take things one game at a time and impose what we do well while limiting what our opponents do best. The season has been a big accomplishment so far, but we’re not trying to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Williams said.
The Titans were seeded No. 2 in the 4A West, and after a 2-1 win over No. 31 Providence Day in the first round, boys soccer is set to continue its journey in the state playoffs today at 6:30 p.m. against No. 18 Independence. For the seniors on the team this is their last shot at a state championship and for some it may be the last time they touch the field at all. Regardless of the outcome of the playoffs, their accomplishments over their years as Titans speak for themselves.
“We have played a really good four years, winning the conference three times. I hope people will look back at us as one of the better teams this school has had. It’s really one of the best careers I could have asked for,” senior Grant Tally said.
