Men’s soccer took a huge turn last year when the Bobcats came out on top with a victory against Gulf Coast. The men battled all the way to the end clutching the win after a close penalty kick shootout. The previous year the Bobcats also came out victorious with the win over Southwest. However, the real question is will the Bobcats bring us back another state championship?
Head Coach Brendan Connolly sure thinks so.
“The players’ main goal is to win a third conference championship in a row and qualify for the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) National Tournament,” Connolly said.
However, not only do the Bobcats have to worry about their opponents, they also have to stay ahead of the fight against the coronavirus and make sure they do everything in their power to be able to play. The Bobcats are taking every precaution necessary to prevent any spreading of COVID-19.
“Our main aim for the Fall semester is to keep everyone and their family safe from COVID-19.
We are following the guidelines and policies set out by the college’s administration,” Connolly said.
Although he lost a majority of his team, Connolly insisted on staying positive.
“We are approaching this upcoming season as we have done in the past. We want to enjoy the experience and attack each day with a positive mindset. If we can do that well, we have the talent in the squad to have another successful season,” he said.
As for snatching another title, the sophomores will bring a positive attitude and great leadership to bring the men to another victory.
“All 10 of our returning players contributed a lot to our success last season, and I expect them to bring that gained experience with them into this season,” Connolly said. “We are looking forward to seeing the quality and energy that our 14 new players possess.”
Returning player Peyton Wilbanks has definitely had to take on more of a leadership role.
“Since everyone is new they need someone to be able to tell them what to do on the field besides the coach. That way in games they don’t have to rely solely on the coach to explain to them what they have to do,” said Wilbanks.
It can take a lot of adjusting to play with new teammates and becoming adaptable to every situation.
“I’ve been taking it one step at a time. It’s easy playing with the sophomores I played with last year, but learning how to play with the new guys has been challenging, but it’s coming together,” said Wilbanks.
Having confidence in not only themselves but their new players, the Bobcats know what their main focus is, and that is to bring back another title this coming spring.
by Kendyl Terrell
