Heavy can be the head that wears the crown.
Greenbrier East head boys soccer coach Lucas Lemine does not want that to be the case with his team this year. Heading into his 10th season on the sideline, Lemine has made it a point to let his team know they are not walking in past shoes.
The Spartans are coming off a magical run in 2022 that culminated in Greenbrier East being crowned state champions for the first time ever in boys soccer.
“We have been working hard as usual and making sure they understand that this group is paving its own walk way,” Lemine said. “I think so far they have understood that and nobody has had a big head about it. We had 40 kids out and they understood that everybody has to earn their position. Nothing is guaranteed.”
Naturally with the loss of so many seniors to graduation, the team will look a little different and will face some new challenges.
“In terms of how we are game planning, we have a whole new structure of what we want to do and what we want to accomplish. Our big thing early has been trying to create leaders,” Lemine said. “All eight of those guys that played last year and graduated were in some way, shape or form a leader. Whether it was through actions or through words, they provided leadership for us. So we have talked with a couple from each class and told them they can do that and they have been good at that so far.”
Senior Keeper Joe Cochran was in the middle of the postseason firestorm last year and Lemine will especially look to him for leadership.
“Joe sees the whole field and he needs to be a big loud guy anyway. That is what we expect of him,” Lemine said. “It’s huge to have a guy that has been there and done that. He understands what our expectations are, but he is also realistic. There is going to be some games where there are growing pains this year.”
Although the roster losses due to graduation are noteworthy, Greenbrier East does have some major contributors back from the title run.
Along with Cochran, the returning senior group includes Peter Furlong, Carter Tolliver, Jacob Grim and Dawson Trusty who were all solid contributors last year according to their coach. Trusty will be expected to be an anchor on the back line this season.
“Dawson played beside (2023 Boys Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year) Adam (Seams) last year. We felt like he would gain a lot of knowledge from playing beside Adam,” Lemine said. “He has been one of our more technically gifted players the last four years. I really expect him to hold down the back line and increase his ability to communicate.”
The defending Class AAA state champions also have a pair of newcomers that played at Nicholas County last year in seniors Ian Gadd and Hassan Nakouda.
“Ian has been super good for three straight years. He had 37 goals and had 21 assists for Nicholas County last year.” Lemine said. “He is an excellent player and brings a good tactical game. We are not teaching him much. He just listens and understands.”
The senior core will be complimented by juniors Nixon Brown and Parker Hill who played last year, along with sophomores Andrew Holt and Noah Edwards.
“We do have a solid young class that will be ultra competitive and it is a group that we are really excited about. We also have two freshman that I think will be excellent this year,” Lemine said.
Greenbrier East opened the 2023 season with a 3-1 win over Buckhannon-Upshur Friday before earning a 2-2 draw with Class AA power, Point Pleasant Saturday.
In the season opening win over the Buccaneers Ian Gadd had a goal and an assist. John Withrow and Noah Edwards netted a goal and Dawson Trusty had an assist.
Saturday afternoon, Edwards scored a goal off an assist from Gadd and Nixon Brown scored an unassisted goal.
Keeper Joe Cochran had one save Friday and four saves Saturday.
Greenbrier East (1-0-1) plays its first sectional clash Tuesday when the Spartans host Oak Hill.
