“Undefeated!” cheered the boys of the Union Middle Soccer Team as they triumphantly ran off the field after beating Springfield 7-2 in their final contest of the year. A year, deemed as a rebuilding year, turned into one of destiny. By scoring on average 3.2 goals per game and surrendering a paltry .67, the team was able to stay focused in their quest to be the 4th undefeated team under coach Petras in his 22 years at the helm. “Being undefeated does not come easily in any sport,” commented coach Petras. “13 to 14 year-old boys sometimes have trouble staying focused long enough to eat a bowl of cereal, let alone through 15 complete soccer matches.” He added that the team used a combination of athleticism, leadership, and above all, heart, to propel them to victory. With only 4 returning players from last year’s squad that went 11-1-1, the onus fell on captains Justin Novoa and Kevin Couto to keep players eyes on the prize. They were helped in large by the positive presence of the morale leader of the team- Matthews Possidonio, who lit the fire to compete in every player before each game. In addition, the net was meticulously minded by Michael Simoes and his defense that set a record with 7 shutouts this year. Overall, the team looks forward to next year with great anticipation to see if they can duplicate the success they experienced this year.
(above) 2015 Union Boys’ Middle School Soccer Team with Coach, Mr. Larry Petras. Wins – 13 Loses – 0 Ties – 2
