The UC High Boys Soccer Team aims to settle the score by defeating all of their opponents on their road to victory. With many of the team’s players training year-round to be ready for the 2023-2024 season, they have a clear idea of where they seek to improve.
Soccer players, like many other athletes, practice constantly in the off-season. They engage in other physical activities to stay prepared and improve. Senior Striker Evardo Diaz de Leon said, “In the off-season, we just go do our own personal training, whether it’s running or going to the gym or just training in general. Some of the guys go join clubs [club soccer teams].”
Many soccer fans are primarily concerned with goals and who scores them; strikers rarely focus on the four defenders, who are crucial to keeping players out of the goal and pushing them away from the goalie. When asked about playing center back [defense] and how he handles that amount of pressure, Senior Gregorio Zarraga said, “I’ve just been going all in during all my games this year. Overall, I would say I do pretty well, and I think my team can back me up on that; however, it is hard and it’s a lot of pressure being the last man to defend the goalie, but the pressure really comes when everyone has their faith in me to succeed and lead the group.”
Romero added, “I feel like being in the back four does put a lot of pressure on us, but knowing that you have teammates all around you to support you and watch over you who care about you, and are there every step of the way, really helps you out.”
However, you simply cannot win games by defending; on the other side of the field, offense is scoring goals. About his position as a striker, Diaz de Leon said, “I believe striker is a very important role because the striker’s main duty is to score goals and that is my job, so I try to find and succeed in every opportunity I get to score the goals.”
The team trains continuously to construct new skills in order to out score their opponents throughout the season. Senior Head Coach Chris Tolles said, “All I want is for my players to go out on the pitch and give it their all for the 90 minutes we play. If they improve and play their best, we will leave this season with gold. I guarantee that.”
Soccer is not just a game but an international treasure, thus making the game memorable for players and helping them unlock a strong passion for the sport.
Zarraga said, “When I’m defending, my heart is pounding through my chest. That’s a feeling I love to feel through my body. But I play just for the simple enjoyment out of it and being with my friends. It used to be a big part of my life because I’ve been playing since I was a kid. To this day, I still love it and I always will .”
“Soccer means a lot to me. I’ve been playing my whole life until present day, and I have a lot of love for this sport and dream to go pro one day,” said Diaz de Leon.
“I love soccer because it keeps me in shape and gives me a certain joy nothing else can give me,” said Romero.