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Eagles soccer team kicks off season
By Justin Raines Staff Writer
Last year they finished the regular season with the best record in school soccer history. In 2008, the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Eagles hope to fly even higher.
After finishing with a 17-2 record and a second consecutive Carolina Athletic Association championship, the Eagles were ousted during the first round of the state playoffs in 2007.
With a solid group of returning players and a more difficult schedule designed to prepare the team for state competition, the Eagles seemed optimistic Monday during the first day of tryouts.
"I want us to win the conference again and win a couple of playoff games, maybe even the whole championship," senior forward Irving Guzman said.
Guzman and senior Antuan Maeda have been offered Division I scholarships at Gardner-Webb University and are among a handful of veteran scorers hoping to lead the Rabun Gap offense this fall.
"We have a strong group of leaders on the team that have been with me for three years," head coach Daniel Ostojic said. "We have a lot of new guys that will be helping us defensively."
Ten players will be returning to the varsity roster from last year, and about five junior varsity athletes will compete for the remaining eight slots.
On Monday, there were still some question marks on the defensive side of the field, but Ostojic said he hoped to have his answers by later this week as he finalized the 2008 lineup.
Eagles junior Ford Thrift will likely take over as goalkeeper, replacing Sanders Dorough who graduated last year.
"I really need to step it up from JV," Thrift said. "It's a whole different game than varsity."
Thrift said he enjoyed the pressure of protecting the net and holding the team's fate in his hands.
"Sometimes it feels like you're a central part of the team when (the other team) is taking shots," Thrift said. "I don't have to run a lot, but when I do, I have to sprint my hardest."
The Eagles kick off the 2008 season at 5:30 p.m. Friday at home against Highlands School.
After finishing with a 17-2 record and a second consecutive Carolina Athletic Association championship, the Eagles were ousted during the first round of the state playoffs in 2007.
With a solid group of returning players and a more difficult schedule designed to prepare the team for state competition, the Eagles seemed optimistic Monday during the first day of tryouts.
"I want us to win the conference again and win a couple of playoff games, maybe even the whole championship," senior forward Irving Guzman said.
Guzman and senior Antuan Maeda have been offered Division I scholarships at Gardner-Webb University and are among a handful of veteran scorers hoping to lead the Rabun Gap offense this fall.
"We have a strong group of leaders on the team that have been with me for three years," head coach Daniel Ostojic said. "We have a lot of new guys that will be helping us defensively."
Ten players will be returning to the varsity roster from last year, and about five junior varsity athletes will compete for the remaining eight slots.
On Monday, there were still some question marks on the defensive side of the field, but Ostojic said he hoped to have his answers by later this week as he finalized the 2008 lineup.
Eagles junior Ford Thrift will likely take over as goalkeeper, replacing Sanders Dorough who graduated last year.
"I really need to step it up from JV," Thrift said. "It's a whole different game than varsity."
Thrift said he enjoyed the pressure of protecting the net and holding the team's fate in his hands.
"Sometimes it feels like you're a central part of the team when (the other team) is taking shots," Thrift said. "I don't have to run a lot, but when I do, I have to sprint my hardest."
The Eagles kick off the 2008 season at 5:30 p.m. Friday at home against Highlands School.
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