It’s that time of year again – soccer is back in session! The soccer season has begun for both boys and girls here at APK. Last year, the girl’s varsity record was 15-5-1, with a win percentage of 0.74%. The girl’s JV record and win percentage are unknown. The boy’s varsity record was 6-9-4, with a win percentage of 0.42%. The boy’s JV record was 5-7-5, with a win percentage of 0.44%. Clearly last year’s teams did well, but this year’s teams are already looking quite hopeful.
Coach Perrine is the girls’ soccer coach, and she is very excited for the new season. She told us that the girls will be playing in a new formation this year. In fact, it’s the formation Spain used in the World Cup. Coach Perrine is also excited simply because of soccer. She said soccer “provides you with community skills and life lessons. Sometimes you’re gonna win, sometimes you’re gonna lose, and I just like all of it. I love soccer. I love being on the pitch. I love the smell of the grass. It’s just a wonderful experience.” The girls have gained some great players this year. Coach Perrine told us that there were some great incoming freshmen that tried out. Captains haven’t really been chosen yet, but Coach Perrine said her seniors are like the captains of the team. The coach said their biggest rival this season is Lake Brantley because “it’s so close to us” and “they’re good.”
The girls aren’t the only ones we’re excited for, however. The boys also have an exciting season ahead of them. Tryouts for boys were on October 16th. Almost 90 boys tried out for JV or Varsity this year! Coach Matthews is the boys’ soccer coach, and he’s ready for the new season to begin. Not only does the team have several new players, but there are lots of returning Varsity members. At this time, no captains have been chosen, but the coach has plans to appoint them soon. According to Coach Matthews, Wekiva and Edgewater have been big rivals in past seasons, so those are the most anticipated games this year.
The girl’s soccer season officially began on November 7th for their first game against Dr. Phillips High School. The JV and varsity teams both had games that day, with both prevailing over Dr. Phillips. The score for JV was 2-0. The score was 1-0 for varsity. Though this was only their first match, the season is already off to an excellent start for the former district champions.
The boy’s varsity team also had their first game on November 7th against Tavares High School. The match was close, but Apopka secured the win with a final score of 5-4. Last year’s team struggled a bit, losing nine games throughout the season, but this year’s team is already setting the bar high and looking pretty exceptional doing it.
When asked why they decided to play soccer for the school, sophomore Noah Anderson responded with his reasoning. “I decided to play soccer for the school because of my love for the sport. There is much you can learn from other players and the coaches, and that’s what I wanted to do in playing for the school.” Sophomore Lochlan Sinclair also chimed in. “I truly have a love for the sport as well, and as someone raised in the country in which it was created, the culture truly reinforced that passion.” This shows that there isn’t a single player who does not have a true love and passion for the sport, not on Apopka’s teams anyway. I next questioned what their favorite part about playing soccer for the school is, as well as in general. They all responded that they love getting to be a part of a team with their friends and classmates. It is also a great way to be involved and to represent our school and its colors.
When asked what practices look like for the teams, sophomore Sydney Chandler gave us some scheduling details. “We have practices every day except on Fridays or days we have games. We practice at the Fields of Fame. They usually last for about an hour and a half.” Sophomore Lochlan Sinclair also responded, discussing what they practice for their hour-and-a-half sessions. “Our practice routine consists of drills where we prioritize keeping our style of play consistent. We practice things such as possession, shooting drills, scrimmages, and, of course, lots of running.” The Blue & White next asked about the warm-up routine for game days. Sophomore Andrew Kurz was able to give us a debrief. “Our warm-ups before games consist of a short jog, a stretch circle, one-touch passing drills, and a small-sided possessions drill.” The teams keep their game-day routine similar to their practice routine. This makes it so they are going over what they know, warming up their muscles and moves, and enhancing their performance before making their way onto the field.
Next, we discussed some of the teams’ struggles last year. Sophomore Andrew Kurz says that the boys’ team struggled with their “play style,” saying they focused more on scoring than taking control of the game. He believes this can be overcome by “using a more possessive play style” in order to be more in control and successful. For the girls’ team, sophomore Sydney Chandler said they have trouble with “finishing,” meaning that they would get to the end of the field but struggle to shoot and follow through with the play. She believes this can be improved by practicing and playing more like a team and not as individuals. There are important qualities needed to be successful in the sport of soccer. Freshman Jillian Kurz, who has been playing the sport for a decade, says, “I would say communication skills, being coachable, and fitness are very important qualities needed to be a successful soccer player.” Jillian is one of three freshmen on the girl’s varsity team this year.
For the last part of the interview, The Blue & White and the players talked about their hopes for the season and what they are most excited about. They responded that they are “excited about upcoming experiences” and to “see how far we make it.” Some are even excited about Senior Night, saying it will be “bittersweet.” It is apparent that hopes and spirits are high about the soccer season this year. Pure excitement is in the air!
We are very excited for the soccer season! Everyone is working exceptionally hard and we are hoping for some amazing results. There are a lot of passionate and talented players this year and we have great faith in them. When you see the soccer team, make sure to give them your support. Go Darters!
