The Harrisburg Boys Soccer Team previously had an abnormally long losing streak; however, they won their first game in four years during the 2020-2021 season. People may blame certain players or calls, but soccer is a team sport, where players work as a team and as a program to achieve success. “The best part of the program is building the relationships with players, parents, and staff. I really enjoy seeing the players succeed and accomplishing skills that we have taught them,” says head coach Amber Briden. She has coached the boys’ soccer team since the 2018-2019 season. One of her goals is “to change the culture of the team and help us become successful.” To do this, they have fundraised and spread the word about the program; consequently, they have doubled the number of kids they had last year from under twenty to around forty student-athletes.
This season, the Tigers’ record ended at 2-10-3 with a 3-0 win over Mitchell in their very first game — a very strong season from previous years. Last season they went 1-13. The boys worked hard and earned the 16th spot in a conference of 19 teams. Ryan Behrend, a varsity defender, commented, “Working hard towards a goal with the right people can change the entire dynamic and outcome of a team and in the process.” Hoping to claim a competitive seed spot, the boys played hard and practiced better.
To some, it seemed the soccer team overcame some of its flaws. Behrend commented, “When I joined, we had some of the best single players in the state but never won a single varsity game. The following year, they all graduated, and we had a team with... mostly freshmen and got the first win in four years for Harrisburg.” Recently, people's attitudes toward Harrisburg soccer have also changed. Since the Tigers have caught teams off guard, they have received many compliments from their opponents.
Four strong leaders made up the varsity captain squad. Senior Taylor Hofer has played with the team for six years, so he has seen the effects of the new coaching and players' mindsets. He stated, “Our team has changed a ton the past few years. Previously, we didn’t try our hardest and now we actually try and want to win.” Seth Stanga, another senior captain, is a strong defender who saves the team from many opponents’ potential goals. Max Bates, a junior, is the third captain and is a very solid playmaker for the team. The fourth captain for varsity is the starting goalie, Josiah Hutton, who is a sophomore.
The Tigers appreciate the support they get from the community, and they would love to see even more fans at the games next season. With off-season workouts and practices, the team looks forward to competing again next fall.