Youthful RMA soccer club growing in season
By Ethan Joyce
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
When seven seniors graduated from the Rocky Mount Academy boys’ soccer team last year, coach Larry Smith knew his team sheet needed to be shuffled.
His jostling of the roster put players in brand new spots this season, asking them to not only maintain good form but also develop in roles they weren’t used to in the past.
“There are a lot of guys playing new positions, and a lot of guys being asked to do things that they are just learning how to do,” Smith said. “We’ve got a bunch of athletes — we are just turning them into soccer players.”
RMA (7-5, 5-1 CIC Conference) displayed both its talent and youth on Tuesday while hosting Raleigh St. Thomas More. The Eagles pulled off a 2-0 victory, but not before the Chancellors pestered them.
St. Thomas More pushed into its attacking third early, driving at the goal. Smith said it was the same plowing attack the Chancellors threw on them in an earlier matchup. But the Eagles eventually settled that out and took a goal lead behind two players in new roles.
Eagles goalkeeper A.J. Mitchell fought the Chancellors early aggression by matching it. He made beelines to any shot that approached the penalty box to help keep things even. Smith pointed out that this is Mitchell’s first year managing the goal, but he uses the skills he built as a basketball and baseball player to his advantage.
“The last three years, we have trained rookie keepers here,” Smith said. “. . . He has never played soccer in his entire life. So literally, in the last four months or so, he has learned the position.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete, so there is a lot to work with there.”
Mitchell held St. Thomas More off until his teammates could produce. In the 22nd minute of play, center back Marcus Lerro pushed through the middle of the pitch. The Chancellors keeper pulled out of the goal and advanced up the field every time the Eagles crossed the center line. Noticing this, Lerro pushed into the attacking third to the left of the goal. And as the goalie came out, Lerro chipped a ball into the back-right corner of the net.
Lerro played predominantly as an attacking midfielder before this season. Now, Smith put him in the defensive third. While that position keeps Lerro back more, Smith allows the junior to judge when he can push ahead.
“He does have the green light that if he sees daylight, he can carry on,” Smith said. “The players know to cover for him.
“He sees a lot of what the other guys can’t from his position, and naturally, soccer is designed to control and possess from the back. Our skill in the back is still developing, but having him with those abilities, that is priceless.”
The Eagles sit one game behind conference leader Faith Christian (6-1 CIC), and the two will play Friday. Smith expected the Patriots, with their senior-heavy squad, would stand in the Eagles’ way. To build his team up for conference play, Smith tries to play a strong non-conference. He said this year, each of the six non-conference teams they played were playoff qualifiers.
Smith said he likes the Eagles’ chances against Faith Christian if they can dominate possession.
“We are still learning our identity,” Smith said. “It is a roller coaster. Some days we do really well, and other days, form is not so good.
“But everybody is working hard, and that is really all I can ask of them.”
By Ethan Joyce
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
When seven seniors graduated from the Rocky Mount Academy boys’ soccer team last year, coach Larry Smith knew his team sheet needed to be shuffled.
His jostling of the roster put players in brand new spots this season, asking them to not only maintain good form but also develop in roles they weren’t used to in the past.
“There are a lot of guys playing new positions, and a lot of guys being asked to do things that they are just learning how to do,” Smith said. “We’ve got a bunch of athletes — we are just turning them into soccer players.”
RMA (7-5, 5-1 CIC Conference) displayed both its talent and youth on Tuesday while hosting Raleigh St. Thomas More. The Eagles pulled off a 2-0 victory, but not before the Chancellors pestered them.
St. Thomas More pushed into its attacking third early, driving at the goal. Smith said it was the same plowing attack the Chancellors threw on them in an earlier matchup. But the Eagles eventually settled that out and took a goal lead behind two players in new roles.
Eagles goalkeeper A.J. Mitchell fought the Chancellors early aggression by matching it. He made beelines to any shot that approached the penalty box to help keep things even. Smith pointed out that this is Mitchell’s first year managing the goal, but he uses the skills he built as a basketball and baseball player to his advantage.
“The last three years, we have trained rookie keepers here,” Smith said. “. . . He has never played soccer in his entire life. So literally, in the last four months or so, he has learned the position.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete, so there is a lot to work with there.”
Mitchell held St. Thomas More off until his teammates could produce. In the 22nd minute of play, center back Marcus Lerro pushed through the middle of the pitch. The Chancellors keeper pulled out of the goal and advanced up the field every time the Eagles crossed the center line. Noticing this, Lerro pushed into the attacking third to the left of the goal. And as the goalie came out, Lerro chipped a ball into the back-right corner of the net.
Lerro played predominantly as an attacking midfielder before this season. Now, Smith put him in the defensive third. While that position keeps Lerro back more, Smith allows the junior to judge when he can push ahead.
“He does have the green light that if he sees daylight, he can carry on,” Smith said. “The players know to cover for him.
“He sees a lot of what the other guys can’t from his position, and naturally, soccer is designed to control and possess from the back. Our skill in the back is still developing, but having him with those abilities, that is priceless.”
The Eagles sit one game behind conference leader Faith Christian (6-1 CIC), and the two will play Friday. Smith expected the Patriots, with their senior-heavy squad, would stand in the Eagles’ way. To build his team up for conference play, Smith tries to play a strong non-conference. He said this year, each of the six non-conference teams they played were playoff qualifiers.
Smith said he likes the Eagles’ chances against Faith Christian if they can dominate possession.
“We are still learning our identity,” Smith said. “It is a roller coaster. Some days we do really well, and other days, form is not so good.
“But everybody is working hard, and that is really all I can ask of them.”
