As spring approaches, so does the long-awaited soccer season. Last year, the team finished with the third best record in the National District, only behind Lewis High School and Falls Church High School.
“I want to win all of our district games and win the district title [this year],” senior captain Rudis Madrid said.
The Atoms have a very young roster this year, “We have a very new squad because we lost 18 seniors last year. So far, it’s looking promising because we’re seeing a lot of new talent,” Madrid said.
The team has many goals set for themselves thus far.
“My goals for myself and the team this season are to keep improving everyday, stay consistent, compete at a high level, and make a strong play-
off run,” junior and varsity player Joel Suarez said.
Although team goals are very important, other players have personal goals set for themselves too.
“My goal as a player is to be awarded first team all-district and maybe win District Player of the Year,” Madrid said.
None of these goals are far-fetched, the team is very talented and they’ve got a got going for them. “One of our biggest strengths is our chemistry and work ethic. We play for each other and never give up,” Suarez said.
Junior Ahmed Elhag believes that the team has great potential: “We can beat any team in our region because we have more than just individual talent, we can play as a team and work hard,” Elhag said.
The team will play their first match against Manassas Park High School on March 26. This should be an evenly matched game, as both teams stood around the .600 mark in win percentage, the Atoms being slightly higher.
With the multitude of new players, the Atoms will have to adjust and build chemistry quickly.
“Right now, we’re trying to get a sense of how our new teammates play so we can put them in the best position to succeed,” Elhag said.
The Atoms’ biggest competition in the National District going into this season will be the Lewis Lancers and the Falls Church Jaguars.
Junior defender Tamim Yassin has high expectations for the upcoming season: “I don’t think there’s a team we can’t beat in our area, but that’s only when we’re clicking. First, we need to all get on the same page which could take some time,” Yassin said.“I trust my teammates on offense and on defense. I know we can win a championship.”
Madrid also thinks very highly of the team and its capabilities: “We don’t need a miracle to win our district championship, we just need to play hard and play as a team. We are up there with the best teams in the district.” Madrid said.
The young, but talented team will need a lot of structure from returning players.
“As a captain, I’m who the coaches and other players will look to for leadership, so I’ll need to step up in that regard,” Madrid said.
This will be an exciting season to watch and see how the team develops and adapts to different obstacles.
You can support the boys varsity soccer team by cheering them on at some of their upcoming games or by staying updated and following them on Instagram @ahsmensoccer.
