The Greenbrier East boys’ soccer team enjoyed a highly successful season in Covid-ridden 2020. At one point in the season, they were ranked number in the state and were recognized as a top program in the entire nation by Max Preps.
But this year, the mindset is a little different. Although the Spartans want to win every game they play and give their fans and school many victories, according to head coach Lucas Lemine, there are five games his team has focused on after last season’s non-stop accolades that ended without a championship.
“With this year’s team we have talked about in the nine years that I’ve been head coach we have already built an extremely solid and respected program throughout the state. They don’t have to continue to build that program, but they need to find a way to leave their mark. We are focused on the five games that matter. Two in the section, one in the region and two at the state tournament,” Lemine said.
“I think the guys learned a valuable lesson with those rankings. One, it is nice to see your hard work and dedication to do something you care about pay dividends but also those rankings don’t play the games and win the games for you. They again have those five games in mind, and they understand that those rankings don’t earn a star on your uniform,” Lemine said with emphasis.
With so many interchangeable players from year-to-year, Lemine understands that to communicate with them year in and year out, he must be able to not only keep his regular coaching style, but also adapt to his personnel as well.
“Kids change and with that I have to adapt, or I wouldn’t still be here. The first few groups responded well to be yelled at with the get in your face approach. Kids aren’t the same today and don’t respond well to that, however they do want to be coached and they do want to learn. This year’s group is hungry for knowledge of the game and understand the more they know the more rounded player they will become,” Lemine stated.
As most people probably know when they drive by it every day, the Spartans have a new soccer field adjacent to the school’s Lady Spartan softball field. The team played on it last year, but with the upgrades made to it since then, East is very excited to get back out there on the new surface even though there is still more to come in the near future.
“We used the new facility last year. This year it will have some finished upgrades but still not 100% complete. The field is absolutely amazing, and we wouldn’t be where we are today in this project without a wonderful soccer community. The kids in the program love the facility because they finally have a place for the sport they love. But again, we aren’t finished and have already started thinking of the next project for high school soccer,” said Lemine.
As for what Lemine expects from his team this year, he has put together a team slogan that his players will use every game for motivation of the bigger picture.
“My goals don’t really change from year to year, I just have to modify the game plan. Three games matter in the regular season and it takes five in the postseason to earn the star on your uniform. This season we have chosen to “Win The Next Battle,” meaning we focus day by day of building a better player, coach and program by the work we do on the field. Nobody is perfect, but we can always attempt to “Win The Next Battle,” Lemine concluded.
The Spartans opened up their season on Saturday, August 22 against Buckhannon-Upshur.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.