Kicking up a storm: Varsity boys soccer season preview

On Feb. 2, the Cedar Shoals boys soccer team kicked off the 2023-24 season in an exhibition match against the Prince Avenue Wolverines. The Jags won the match 10-0, scoring eight in the first half before hitting the mercy rule 11 minutes into the second half.

“This team is one of the most talented squads we’ve had,” head coach Conor Naughton said. “I think we are definitely looking to not just make the playoffs, but make a pretty deep run.”

Last season, the team finished 8-9, an improvement from the previous year’s 5-9-2 record. Three of those eight losses were decided by one goal, with two games going into overtime. The team seeks to clean up their endgame plan after all of these close games. 

“We’re working hard on scoring goals and finishing all our shots,” sophomore Ezekiel Hensley-Williams said.

Although last year’s record was not ideal, the team set highs in goals scored (60), assists (45) and chances created (266) for the decade. With 75% of the varsity squad returning, the team hopes to improve on these numbers once again.

Captain and senior defender Luis Martinez leads the team, returning as a third year captain. Martinez also made his 50th career varsity appearance against the Wolverines. Alongside Martinez, junior defender Kevin Solis, senior midfielder Fernando Vera-Rubio, and senior midfielder Wilbert Pena—who spent the summer on trial for a Polish club—will also dawn the armband for the Jags.

Naughton hopes that fans will attend games and bring energy and noise, especially for tougher opponents. Some of their toughest match-ups are two time defending state champions Johnson, East Hall and North Oconee. Naughton also believes that Cedar plays in one of the toughest divisions in the area.

Naughton also plans to ask the marching band to borrow a bass drum to help with getting the crowd excited.

“Be there and be loud,” Naughton said. “We want our fans to be loud.”