A Team as One

The Eagles soccer team takes CYC tournament title

Jack+Douglas+and+Tyler+Beilsmith+%28%234%29+celebrate+a+goal+while+the+rest+of+the+team+join+them.+The+Eagles+are+in+first+place+in+the+Gateway+Athletic+Conference.++

Eric Mason

Jack Douglas and Tyler Beilsmith (#4) celebrate a goal while the rest of the team join them. The Eagles are in first place in the Gateway Athletic Conference.

Nick Howard, Reporter

Eric Mason
Casey Porter eludes a defender in a match against Marquette.

The boys soccer team notched their fifth straight shutout en route to their championship victory against Washington Saturday in the CYC tournament.

The Eagles are 13-2 overall and have won nine consecutive matches including their most recent win against Fort Zumwalt East on Tuesday.

“We have to take each game as a big game if we want to stay hot,” Coach Raziq said. “There isn’t one certain game that we’re looking forward to because every game matters the rest of the season.”

For the team’s first major tournament title, the Eagles beat Troy, Alton-Marquette, Fox, Seckman and Washington.

“We won the Winfield tournament last year, but winning the CYC tournament is always a big deal,” Coach Raziq said.

In six of their nine matches that they’ve won in a row, they won the match without conceding a goal. Goalies Seth Kemerer and Lucas Mitchell have combined for nine shutouts this season.

Heading towards the end of the season, the Eagles are clicking at the right time. The big key of success for the team has been about the players knowing how to play their role with the team.

Evan Sachs celebrates a goal against Alton Marquette.

Junior Jack Kavanaugh has been one of the top players in the GAC scoring 16 goals and having a point total of 35.

“I feel like transitioning from the wing to the center of the attacking front has made me become a better player in itself,” Kavanaugh said.

Meanwhile, Kavanaugh and the two goalies haven’t done it all for the Eagles. The defense is making a struggle for the other teams to score on the Eagles. Hardly any team has had more than one goal registered in a game this season.

“The defense makes it difficult for other teams to get the ball across the field for our opponents,” Kavanaugh said.

The team also is very focused on reaching their goal and winning it all this year and it has helped motivate the team’s success.

“We were focused last year as well, but the team this season is playing their best and is motivated to be as successful as possible,” Kavanaugh said.

Coach Raziq and his team looks to stay hot and remain victorious the rest of the season.

“If we stay humble and play our hardest, I think we will be at our best and go far if we do that,” Coach Raziq said.

Eric Mason
Lucas Mitchell stops a shot on goal. Mitchell has six wins as goalkeeper and a 1.63 goals against average.