The boys soccer team kicked off the season with a 1-1 tie against Loyola Academy, scoring in the second half after being down one goal during the first half. Since then, they have won four games and tied four. During those games, their tie against New Trier was especially impressive, as they are the holding State Champions. Most recently, they played their first Conference match against Highland Park, ending in another win, exemplifying their competitiveness.
Throughout the season, they have been triumphant after wins, but at times, they have felt disappointed with ending the game in a tie, which some see as equivalent to a loss. ¨ I think that during the Deerfield game we definitely could have won, no one was necessarily happy with the tie,” junior Elyan Jamal said. His opinion speaks for the majority of the team, and overall, the fact that the team is unsatisfied until they have sufficiently won speaks to their passion and level of competitiveness. Ambition is one of their many strengths, including physicality, accuracy, and coordination.
In addition, the team brings a positive attitude to the table. ¨Our attitude towards this season is one of optimism and determination. As a team, we’ve put in a lot of hard work and I believe we have the talent and chemistry to succeed.¨ senior Diego Moreno said. This type of attitude definitely is a factor in their ability to win.
On the pitch, they have demonstrated numerous great qualities that many teams can only strive for. They remain calm under pressure, show both creativity and technicality, have talented players in each position, and are dedicated to the sport. These qualities make the team dominant and exciting, making games a great watch for viewers. ¨ I think our boys have done a tremendous job representing our school and community with characteristics that are unique to our district.¨ Head Coach Filip Cejovic said.
However, one of their weaknesses this season has been their luck concerning the player’s health. ¨ This year’s team has worked extremely hard for one another and overcome tremendous challenges with a plethora of injuries that have in essence changed the way we attack on the pitch,” Cejovic said. The coach later went on to say that five of their offensive players have been out due to injuries this far into the season, an unfortunate turn to the season that will hopefully change soon.
Coaches Filip Cejovic, Mihajlo Vlaskovic, and Ivan Milicevic, also have a huge impact on the community and the players, and are definitely a huge component in their ability to succeed throughout the season. ¨ The team has a great attitude, and as coaches, we try to be as encouraging as possible,” said Assistant Coach Mihajlo Vlaskovic.
¨Well, with this particular team, we are very strong defensively, so we focus on that, and we have such hardworking and smart players in the middle that I think we’re going to try to be the best defensive team that Nile’s North has ever seen,” Cejovic said. ¨We have a terrific goalkeeper as well.”
The term ¨New North¨ is often used to describe teams that will somehow be different during their season. The Boys Soccer team is one of the few that can actually say they brought something new and great to the school’s atmosphere. This year’s level of play is different from previous seasons, as the defensive aspect is heavily focused on and there is a broader mixture of young and older players, which impacts the game in numerous ways. Their next game is home against Jones High School on Sept. 21st at 12:00 pm, it’s certain to be an exciting watch, and a great opportunity to support the team.
