The Carroll Lynx Men's Soccer team completed their fifth season recently, ending with a 5-11-1 record.
Head Coach Joe Pratt commented on the team and their season, saying, "We were coaching a good group of gentlemen who brought family values to the team which showed in how they took care of each other, and how united they were regardless of whether they were out supporting other Lynx teams, doing community service, traveling to a game, helping each other with school, or just enjoying team tailgates. These players are very respectful, kind, encouraging, and passionate young men. I loved the grit they showed every day."
Top Performers
The team scored 32 goals this season, seven of which came from Daniel Wojtkowiak. On the defensive side, Eymeris Acevedo ended the season with 47 saves with Irving Pacheco racking up 29. Sophomores Nate Burndley and Anthony Wallace protected their keepers as they have in years past, once again having excellent seasons. Coach Pratt highlighted a few players, calling Evan Austin the "Unsung Hero" of the team and Griffin Garvis being the "engine" of the team.
Notable Matches
One of the most memorable matches all year was the first, when Carroll narrowly lost to Montgomery in the final minute. Montgomery finished the season 11-5-1 and won the Region 20 DI Championship. Their largest win of the season came against Westmoreland, winning 10-1 on the road.
Ways to Improve in Future Seasons
Coach Pratt thought his players did very well this season, stating that they were, "A balanced team that was defensively focused and defended well as a unit." He also commented on how his team can improve, saying, "Our weakness will become a strength of ours next year because the team will be more of a veteran team. We had tons of freshmen this year with a lot of playing time so their leadership will be relied on heavily next year. We also need to be better goal scorers so finding the back of the net early and often will be a huge focus for us next year." Coach Pratt hopes to improve the focus of his players, so they are engaged throughout each game entirely. Communication on the pitch will also be a focus for the coming years.