Sports Editor
The
Apex varsity men’s soccer team is determined to get that elusive conference
championship. In each of the last three seasons, the team has come
tantalizingly close to hoisting the conference championship trophy at last, but
each time they have fallen just inches short. Time is running out for this year’s
seniors to get that taste of victory, and head coach Kevin Todd is set on
delivering that championship to his team. “I think it’s an important thing for
seniors because none of them have won a conference title during their three
years here so that would be extremely special,” he said. The mindset is no
different within the team. Says senior defenseman Daniel Nugent, “I believe
that we are the best team in the conference and we have a good chance to make a
run in the playoffs. So basically, I expect us to win the conference and go
from there in the playoffs.”
The
team is off to a great start, sitting at 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference,
which leaves them tied for the top spot early in the season. The team has attained
convincing wins over solid squads in Fuquay-Varina and Leesville Road, with
their only loss coming in an incredibly competitive game against Sanderson in
the Wake County Cup. Despite their early success, Coach Todd says the team is
hungry for more. “We’re 2-0 in conference play right now, but our mentality is
‘never satisfied.’ But overall things are going how we had hoped, things are
moving positively.”
With
a looming matchup against Panther Creek, the team Apex is tied with atop the
conference, the team is focused on continuing to improve their play. “The
overall speed of play could be improved and understanding the concept of
attacking the goal could also be improved. These guys still are not used to
playing with each other, so we just need to continue to develop better
chemistry as a team,” says Coach Todd. Last year’s squad went on an incredible
13-1-1 run during the season, which gives this year’s team some lofty
expectations. Still, Nugent is undaunted by the task, saying, “Soccer is a team
sport and everyone is important. Knowing that, I think our team could be just
as strong as last year’s team.”
