- April 25, 2024
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Matanzas head coach Rich Weber watches his team from the sideline. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Gianni Longo dribbles the ball up the field against Taylor. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Roman Sychev dribbles the ball toward the goal. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Nicholas Ferrer heads a ball toward a teammate. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Nicholas Ramirez passes the ball into the box. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' David Vigo slides to steal the ball. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Nicholas Ferrer dribbles the ball up the field. Photo by Ray Boone
When Matanzas boys soccer coach Rich Weber envisions where he wants his team to be by the end of the season, one particular scenario comes to mind.
“I see us battling against Ponte Vedra like we always do for the district title,” he said. “And I think that’s realistic with the group we have.”
The 2019-20 Pirates are young. They graduated a plethora of talent from last season, especially on the back end in former Pirates player Trent Stanley, who was the anchor of last year’s defense.
“He’ll be missed,” Weber said. “But I’m excited. We were very immature last year not in physicality but also from a mental standpoint. I enjoy having to fight through adversity.”
Stepping into the spotlight are Tristan Alvarez and David Vigo (among others). Alvarez is one of the team’s captains for the second season in a row, and Vigo — a junior who is a “very strong, very smart player, according to Weber — has started every single game since his freshman year.
The Pirates will have to fight through a very difficult schedule this season — one that was made difficult “on purpose.
The Pirates, who defeated Deltona 4-0 in the season-opener the night of Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Matanzas High School, have road dates with the likes of Ponte Vedra, Mandarin, Seabreeze and Taylor on the horizon.
“We’re going to be used to not being at home,” Vigo said. “It’s going to prepare us for the playoffs.”
However, because of the exorbitant amount of youth on the roster, the Pirates will need time to grow.
“We’re still trying to discover ourselves,” Weber said. “We have a lot of potential. But we have to come together.”
