BY QUENTIN SAUVAGEAU
The Beverly Panthers Boys Soccer Team is back in the playoffs.
But it’s never the same playoffs and it’s never the same team. This season has seen a near-complete transformation of last year’s team. Seventeen Panther seniors graduated from the squad since the last time they took the turf. This year’s Panthers eleven has been practically unrecognizable to opponents.
“I think having new faces keeps other teams on their toes.” Sophomore Midfielder Thomas O’Neill said, “They’ve really helped us to put more balls in the back of the net.”
However, this younger panther team has tried to change their identity on the turf.
“I feel like our size isn’t there anymore.” Sophomore Winger Daniel Wilder, said, “So we’ve been relying on our technical ability more than our physical.” Wilder impressed coaches last year, appearing as the only freshman on BHS varsity.
He’s one of the few who remain on this new-look squad. With a change of personnel comes a rebalancing of team chemistry, so incredibly vital to success in team sports.
“I think we have better team chemistry this year, which has helped us succeed.” O’Neill said, “But I definitely think we had better leadership last year.”
Sidelined with an injury throughout most of this season, the phenom Wilder has remained focused, even philosophical, about this squad’s strengths, and challenges.
“Last year’s seniors were very high energy and always vocal, I feel like we’re missing that loud presence.” Wilder said. “Feels like half the team is foreign exchange kids. I feel last year we had more chemistry.”
Whatever the boys’ Panthers are doing seems to be working. New presence to the squad has moved the Panthers offense into uncharted territory, as the BHS boys have scored fifty-nine goals throughout the year, a more than two-fold increase to last year’s twenty-seven.
“I would say ball distribution has been key.” Wilder said, “We get the ball out from the defense up to the attackers and put the ball back in the net.”
The new eleven is motivated.
“Doing what last year’s team couldn’t has been the goal all year,” Wilder said. “Job’s not finished.”
