The boys soccer varsity has introduced two new goalies in the net. They are sophomore Lucas Noll and Kellen Cameron. They have impacted the team with saves that won the game for the warriors. Noll shared what got him into playing soccer and why he chose to be a goalie.
“When I was younger, I always looked up to my dad, he played soccer in college and was a goalkeeper, and I wanted to be like him,” Noll said. “Originally I was a center forward, until when I was about seven, when our team’s goalkeeper was playing and I had to fill in.”
Noll is ranked number 11 in class A as goalkeeper. Cameron has also helped the warriors, leaving their game stats 8-3 so far in the season. Cameron explained some challenges he faces as a goalkeeper and how he overcomes them.
“I think the biggest challenge to overcome is just how much weight a goalkeeper has on their shoulders, the slightest error almost always costs your team a goal. Everyone makes mistakes but mine are way more obvious since it would cost my team a goal,” Cameron said. “I overcame this by wanting that pressure, I want to be the reason why we win or lose, I want to help my team in the best way possible, I think if a goalkeeper wants that pressure, they have more of a chance of overcoming it compared to someone who doesn’t want to face that kind of pressure.”
Last year the two goalkeepers were Marty Mormino and Kaden Simpson, who were seniors and graduated. The coaches had to find two whole new goalkeepers, that is when Noll and Kameron stepped in. Noll shared how he prepares mentally and physically for a game.
“Pregame is a different ballgame for each goalkeeper,” Noll said. “For me I like to sit with my headphones on to block out the noise, and envision all of my past saves and great plays, physically we warm up a lot different than the other field players, just getting the hands warm and feeling the ball while doing some movement helps me get my mind and body ready.”
The two are newcomers for the team and are now playing at every varsity game. Being a goalie can bring out nerves especially when on varsity, so they both shared explained they handle the pressure and expectation that comes with being a Varsity soccer player.
“For me the pressure and high expectations which come with being a varsity goalkeeper are really motivation,” Noll said. “Thinking of these factors helps me always train hard at practices, while I know that my team and coaches and community expect a lot out of me. I try to set expectations for myself, so that I am not nervous about what others are wanting out of me.”
“Our team expects to win every game and in high school every game is season-defining so if you drop one game your season could be over, “Kameron said. “Obviously there’s pressure that comes with that since you don’t want to be the reason your team loses, and in a low scoring sport one goal conceded could lose you the game, before every game I get nervous but when you step out onto the field those nerves quickly fade into confidence and excitement, I try to handle the pressure by telling myself that I’m ready and every game is an opportunity to showcase what we as a team are capable of.”
