Admirals aim to have big season with ten seniors gone
Danville seniors prepare for their final season on the field. From L to R: Sam Gibson, Jeffery Lopez, Remilson Forlevil, Kadin McWilliams and Zachary Morgan.
The Danville Admirals boys soccer team may have lost 10 seniors, but Head Coach Brent Beauman still expects his team to repeat their district and region championship.
“Winning the district and region championship is our goal every year. I have been lucky enough to win both in a season six times here on staff at Danville but last season was a little extra special. That senior class worked very hard for four years to get us back on top. I was very happy for them to be rewarded for the work they had accomplished,” he said.
With 10 seniors gone, it could be considered a rebuilding year, but Coach Beauman’s Admirals are ready to prove themselves just as talented.
“This year’s team has the experience to handle the pressure of being returning champions. I hope they will bring the effort and execution to properly defend the title,” said Beauman.
He then added “I always enter a season with the belief that we can win the district and region. This year is no exception. It will take a group effort and we will need some new guys to step in and fill the spots that were opened due to graduation.”
One of the open spots is goalkeeper. 2019 graduate Keeton Burnside has played the role of the starting goalkeeper for the past three years and was a defining piece in each years success and his absence left Coach Beauman concerned.
“Goalkeeper is our greatest concern. Honestly, I was very worried about this position coming into pre-season but we have three guys who have been working hard in practice and really stepping up to the call. Their efforts have eased some of the concerns I was working through.”
Beauman has instilled a determination in his players, and it shows with how easy they have been to adapt. It will go a long way in making sure this team is talented in all parts of the field as usual.
The 2020 senior class for the boys soccer program consist of four seniors, Remilson Forlevil, Jeffery Lopez, Kadin McWilliams and Zachary Morgan.
Each of these four made an impact last season, all in their own way.
Forlevil was third on the team in goals with 15 on the year, taking the field as a forward. Lopez was listed as a goalkeeper and appeared in two games last season, and hopes to make a big impact defensively this season along with other senior defenders, McWilliams and Morgan. Morgan got on the books with a goal and four assists last season.
The Admirals look forward to the start of their season which is just under a week away. With all Kentucky athletes, they have watched closely to see if their season will still take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines. So far it looks as though it will take place. Regardless of whether a full season is played or not, their season, along with everyone else’s in the state, will look a lot different than normal.
“It is just so crazy and difficult. We are doing all what we can to make sure the boys are safe. We really need a ‘COVID coach’ because there is just so much added this year. It’s turning my grey beard white,” said Beauman.
The Admirals begin their mission to add another district and regional title under their belt on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with a home game against the Western Hills Wolverines.
