Sacrifice.

That is the mindset that the Eagles boys soccer program has going into their season. After losing in the state championship last year, they hope sacrifice is the key to winning that final game of the season, and every player is invested in that theme.

“Our expectation is sacrifice, doing something for our team that we usually don’t do, or like having our team’s back,” said Philip Denaro, junior. “We’re working our hardest in practice, which will translate to game time and help us.”

The Eagles Varsity team is 0-1 on the season, but played their first home game against Chaparral while the newspaper was at the print. They play Ironwood at home tonight and Pinnacle on the road Friday.

“Our main thing we’re working on this year is sacrifice,” said Dylan Ruenzel, junior, ”we’re trying to sacrifice for each other on and off the field so hopefully that can bring us together as a team.

This theme was introduced by the coach, Harry Demos, and translates to the players off the field as well.

“It’s really relevant to our team  because we do sacrifice a lot so we can play,” said Chris Coppola, junior. “We have to sacrifice foods (diets) and sometimes even hanging out with our friends to be at practice.”

That goal of a state championship is on all the players’ minds, and it plays a role in how the players approach the season.

“I’m looking forward to having a successful year,” Ruenzel said.“We have a lot of young players this year, and two years ago we made it to the state semifinals, last year we made it to the finals, so I’m looking to try to get a ring this year. We’ve got a great group of hard-working players who all play as a team and we’re really working on character this year.”

One hindrance that the team will have to face is the loss of the defending Gatorade Player of the Year Musa Morris once he leaves to enroll at the University of Portland.

“Once Musa leaves, we’re going to have to step up and the way we practice is the way we’re going to play,” Denaro said.
No matter the circumstances, expect the team to have their sights on a state championship all year long.