Boys soccer team answering question marks

After a disappointing season for the eagles, coach Peter Pham retooled, regrouped, and partially restarted a roster that had numerous seniors. The eagles have a difficult schedule ahead, and will need to have their ‘A-game’ this season.

“They are expected to be leaders for this team,” Pham said on his seniors this year. “They also have to set the example for this team.”

The head of the senior class this year is Nathan Siy, the brother of Central alum and current UNO soccer player Stevie Siy. Nathan is coming off of a successful personal season where he set himself apart as one of the best midfielders in the state.

Last season Siy played a lot of central defensive-mid, and he is expected to play more of the same because of his unique skill set. Siy provides a great ball presence, while also being a hard nosed defensive player.

The eagles hang their hat on their defense with their big, strong and skilled back line. The two off that back line of note are Sam Morrison and Miraaj Muhumad. The both of them combine to be a impenetrable wall on their back line.

The pairing of their great backline with incredible skill players on their outsides will make them a tough cover all year. In particular is Abdi Abdi, who was an extremely talented JV player from last year who will get no shortage of opportunities to play this year.

One aspect of this team that is different of years past it their youth.

“I am very happy with the energy and enthusiasm the young players bring to practice,” Pham said. “It’s too early to tell, but I believe that the players from last year’s JV team will be able to contribute for varsity this year.”

The talent pool for Pham to pull from from last year’s JV team was deep. Some of the players that will make big contributions from that team last year are Colin Leslie, Adam Bates, Jack Baker and Oscar Castro.

A great mix of defenders, midfielders and forwards were pulled off of that team, and they may be the difference for a state run, in a wide open Class-A.

What may be the ‘x-factor’ for this team is their nine. A question Pham may have asked himself going into tryouts this year was “Who is going to put the ball in the back of the net?”.

He asked himself the same question last year, roughly halfway through the season. The answer was found on the JV roster in Marcos Diaz.

Marcos is the quintessential striker, with his great size, speed, footwork, shot creation ability and his powerful leg. On a team where there is significantly less shot takers, relative to last year, players are going to have to step up if they want to make a run to state, and making that run to state is the goal for Pham.

“I believe that every year sets the standard for the next, and our goal is to compete and make state,” Pham said.

For Pham the name of the game has always been making it to the state tournament. The difference between this team and years past is that they have depth at every position , and will be able to have that ‘next man up’ mentality.

The chip on the shoulder is there, the talent is there and the energy rolling into the season is also there. “(On a scale of one to ten) my excitement is at one billion plus infinity,” Pham said.

Now all there is to do is go and win some soccer games for Pham and his eagle crew, and they are in for what could be the most successful season under Pham.