“Heading” all the way to the top
Although the final football games are wrapping up, the football field will not have an absence of noise, as the vibrant soccer group will fill its place with warmth and comradery. Banking on killer kicks, intense defending and over-the-head shots, the boys’ soccer team is bound for victory this upcoming season.
Starting soccer at four-years-old, the passion Isaac Berini, junior, has towards the sport has grown stronger each year, evident in his success on the field. “I always try to go into games with an open mindset, almost like I don’t really care what happens but like, I’m just going to try my best,” Berini said. “Personally, my strength is probably my passing, my vision and also my soccer awareness.”
With this being his last season, Brady Gabler aims to enjoy every last bittersweet moment with the team. As a senior, he hopes to be a role model to the other players and impact their experiences as much as his own. “Practices are my favorite part of playing soccer because it’s every day of the week, and when we don’t have games, it’s just fun to be able to practice and hangout with all my teammates,” Gabler said. “A normal practice consists of a warm-up and drills, playing, and then finishes up by watching a film or talking about upcoming games and our strategies.”
Both stress and excitement often overtake a player’s mind prior to games, but mental preparations help players settle their emotions and focus on the big picture. “Before games, I usually envision the things I’m going to do in the game. Like I’ll close my eyes for a second and just try to imagine my game plan. And talking with my teammates about different strategies we can apply to that specific team we’re playing against, that helps a lot,” Gabler said.
With being a Panther long before coaching and having his dad and brother coach the team before him, Eric Sanford, varsity coach, was destined for the spot. “I am excited to watch these boys come together as a team. This year we have volunteer officials for the preseason and possibly the regular season as well,” Sanford said. “The season will be a tight race for first place between us, Calabasas and Thousand Oaks, but I’m looking forward to watching this Varsity team score hopefully a lot.”
As the players work tirelessly to ensure the success of the 2023-2024 season, the connections within the team are like no other and are certainly cherished. “We’re very close and we always make each other laugh. On the field, that reflects in our playing ability because we trust one another and are very organized together,” Berini said.
