After this week’s game, the men’s soccer team ended the conference finals with a monumental 19-4 record, breaking an impressive two school records. Ranked 15 in N.C., the team has made this a historic season and is working to keep the streak up. The team consists of 21 athletes, ensuring a tight-knit team and a successful season.
Coach Tony Calabria has been teaching at Wakefield since it opened in 2000. This semester he teaches English, twentieth-century classics and speech as well as coaching the men’s soccer team. Calabria has experience as both a player and a coach, as he played throughout high school and college and coached at the club and high school level.
This is one of the longest seasons the team has ever played, but Calabria works to keep practices engaging and productive, creating new drills each time. For the first time in school history, the men’s soccer team made it into the conference tournament finals, where they unfortunately lost to Rolesville. However, their efforts were not lost, as their incredible streak has caught the attention of recruits.
“We’ve had [college] scouts coming to our games and looking at the boys,” Calabria said. “We have had so much publicity in the newspaper, on the news, on MaxPreps and HighSchool OT.”
Senior and captain Brooks Vice is a midfielder and has led the team to success for two years in a row. In fact, last year the team broke the school record for most regular season wins, with a total of 16. The team has continued its winning streak this year and will play again tonight against Rolesville.
“We’re are really happy with how far we have gotten and we still have a lot to go,” Vice said. “But we are all excited about what we can do.”
Not only has the team broken several records, but they have also created a supportive and friendly environment. This is helpful when it comes to playing on the field, but also plays an important role in building relationships off the field. The team regularly participates in team bonding activities contributing to this season’s success. Senior outside midfielder Carter Kinsman notes the importance of this family like atmosphere.
“This season means a lot to me, I love the team and how supportive we are for each other,” Kinsman said. “It’s great to be a part of.”
As the soccer team advances in the state playoffs, junior and goalkeeper Carter Rhoad acknowledges the drive to continue working hard and keep the season going. While the boys have played many games, each one comes with a different set of challenges that they all must work together to overcome.
One of the struggles the team has faced is winning on the home field. Out of the 15 games played at home, all four losses occurred at home. However, their success on the road is one to celebrate, as all eight away games were won.
“It’s easy to stay motivated when seeing what we are accomplishing as a team and know that you can always rely on your teammates during a game,” Rhoad said.
Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 12, they will play Rolesville at home for the N.C. state playoffs. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. and admission is $7. Keep in mind the WCPSS Clear Bag Policy is in place and tickets can be bought at gofan.com.
“To us, this season means being one of the best soccer teams in Wakefield history, but also just having fun and enjoying the season,” Rhoad said.
