The world’s most renowned symphonies all have one thing in common – the orchestras of these pieces play together, in harmony, as one. Likewise, in hopes for an optimal outcome, sports teams aim to play together, in unity.

This season, our boys soccer team has utilized the chemistry they possess to surpass all standards of what harmony truly is. 

The soccer team has been mentally and physically preparing for the challenges and victories they’ll encounter this season.

Led by coach Nick Vogler, the Cardinals are making their mark with a record of 6-3-3 up until this point.

Vogler recognizes how the relationships within this team fuse the players together during competition on the field.

“Our strengths stem from how close these players are to each other,” said Vogler. “They share strong friendships, mutual understandings, and common goals/expectations and this drives them toward success. This camaraderie provides the team with the spine that it needs to compete in tough games and overcome challenges.” 

The Cardinal’s triumph through the season to date is pillared by the leadership of the coaching staff and upperclassmen. 

“Our captain, Kyler Gashel, is a great role model on and off the field,” said sophomore Drew Brookshire. “Our coaches have experience from higher level soccer that they share with us. They keep us in check and support us 100 percent.”

This season, the guidance of numerous players on the team glistens through their communications and attitudes both on and off the field. 

“These players lead both by example and holding their teammates and themselves accountable,” says Vogler. “They also excel outside of soccer and provide great examples of maturity, confidence, composure, and faith to the team. I have some underclassmen who lead through how they play. They demonstrate intensity, focus, effort, and competitiveness in their individual performances and their teammates draw on and mirror these qualities.”

Midway through the season, the Cardinals hosted the Montgomery County Indians at Cardinal Stadium. This rivalry soccer game hit the ground running; both teams scored within minutes of the game starting. 

After a toilsome competition, the Cardinals came out on top 2-1. Clay Turley and Will Carrington led the team on offense, both scoring goals. 

Throughout the duration of the game, Kyler Gashel and Tennyson Prater directed the team on defense.

Prater said the the Cardinals were “mentally prepared” for this game. “We came in ready to play not concerned about losing, but more passionate about winning,” he said.

Following the 21 games of the regular season, the Cardinals anticipate having a successful stretch in the postseason tournament this year. 

“We are expected to win out the rest of the season and progress as a team to get in the best position possible to win district, region, and state,” says Carrington. 

To prepare for the postseason, the Cardinals are actively working on multiple team fundamentals such as footwork and passing to allow the Cardinals to build chemistry as a team and adapt to a faster pace of game. 

Coach Vogler’s preparations for the postseason are actively being mastered during practices.

“Outside of taking things one game at a time, we are preparing for the postseason by playing quality competition and improving upon each performance, both as a team and as individuals,” he said. “We are being constructively critical of ourselves and are demanding we maintain high expectations as we move through the season.”

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