A flurry of white uniforms clusters together then spreads across the soccer field, standing out against the bright green grass in the eventide sun. A hush falls over the bleachers, where students, parents, and teachers wait for the game to begin. Every player on the St. Paul Academy Boys Varsity soccer team is poised and ready to go.

Eyes on the ball.

A whistle blows, the soccer ball goes thwack, and the game has started.

In preparing for games such as this, the team’s primary focus is organization. ¨It’s a very new team. In terms of the starting lineup, we have 13 new players because 13 kids graduated last year,¨ senior co-captain Quinn Smith said.
While fresh blood is always welcome on a team, captains are posed with the challenge of building team unity.

“Getting used to that — communicating, organization — on the field are all really important. In club soccer, your organization doesn’t matter that much — what matters is that you’re skilled. But in high school soccer it matters a lot more,” Smith said.

Namely, making defense more organized is a focus for the team, and they have been taking action to remedy this. “Our first two games, our defense wasn’t so good. We had to give up nine goals in two games.” To solve this, “We moved to a different formation and a different lineup in the back,” Smith said.

The team’s greatest strength, however, is comprehensive; “We have really good backing players and midfielders, too. Some of the best midfielders In the state. As a combination we play very well together,” Smith said.

Junior Emre Kihtir, a midfielder for BVS, said, “So far this season, we have shown so much potential to face any opponent. We show so much skill and technique on the field.”

“I really love playing with the team this year. I love playing with them,” Smith said. Indeed, in watching the team play, one aspect of the experience is undeniable- no matter what the scoreboard reads, there is a distinct sense of passion, focus, and togetherness within the team that radiates off those white jerseys and into the crowd.