FAIRLEA, WV- With the Greenbrier East Spartans soccer team sitting at 4-1-2 about a month into the season, head coach Lucas Lemine says the defending state champions are on the right track.
East tied with Huntington 3-3 on Saturday, Sept. 9, and Lemine believes he is learning more about his team every day.
“I think we are on the right track at the moment. Lots of rotating pieces to figure out what works best. We haven’t played our best and still been competitive in every game. I think the last two Saturday’s (Spring Mills & Huntington) are eye opening opportunities early in the year when you can really learn about your team. As a staff we have learned a ton and look forward to implementing our thoughts going forward.
With three games coming up this week starting Tuesday at Oak Hill, the East head man has a plan, and the strategy is just another business trip.
“Business as usual,” Lemine said.
“This time in the season we start to watch film more often to give recovery time a focus and obviously learning from that film is a focal point. We know a lot about the opponents in our section and we will have a distinct plan of action for both Oak Hill and Woodrow. St Albans is a little different. They’re a regional opponent and this will be the second year in a row we have played, but still don’t and won’t know a ton about them going into the game,” Lemine explained.
Since the installation of their very own home soccer field, the crowds at the games have been a sight to see. Lemine hopes his players understand what that means, and that they can play well in front of the home crowds a lot more moving forward.
“Our community is amazing,” Lemine exclaimed.
“I’ve made sure the kids understand that these home games are not only an advantage with the crowds but an experience to not take for granted. Looking forward to playing at home in late September and of course hopeful to be playing at home during the first round of sectionals,” he added.
East wants to keep getting better and better for those fans in the stands too.
“We just need to keep getting better, getting our legs under us, and understanding that skill will only take you so far. Sometimes the game we call beautiful needs to be ugly. It takes a ton of grit and we’ve got kids going five-to-six miles during the course of an 80-minute game; can you find a second, third and sometimes fourth wind in the dying embers to defend your goal or go score a winner,” Lemine asked and concluded.
East will play Oak Hill Tuesday, Sept. 12, Woodrow on Thursday, Sept. 14 and St. Albans on Saturday, the 16th.
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