It has been two years since we were able to field a team, and this year we were unsure if we would have a team due to the low interest. As it turns out, we had just enough players to field a team this season.
Each year teams are often faced with many challenges; as a coach, I'm eager to see how the players respond to those challenges. With low numbers, losing a player early in the season due to injury, and being a young team, the team had many things to overcome. We were fortunate to have Gabriel Pekari as our team captain, and he did an exemplary job in leading the players this year. The coaching staff was also instrumental in the team's success; Alex Clark and Jeremy Gerhard helped grow this team into a cohesive unit.
Records are not everything. Despite having won two games, tied two others, and lost the remaining, people might say the season was unsuccessful; however, the players would disagree. They would come together and look at how they progressed, lead themselves in team debriefs, and competed with teams of much higher calibers. The coaches couldn't be prouder of what the team accomplished this season. Although losing Gabriel to graduation will be a significant loss, the coaches and I are excited by what this team can accomplish in 2022.
DECEMBER 2021
THE LION'S ROAR
7
Soccer Season Round-Up 2021
by Coach Keith Press
Soccer Team Wins Sportsmanship Award!
On Thursday, December 3, the Central Connecticut Soccer Officials Association (CCSOA) awarded the CCS soccer team with the George Ritchie Award, a prestigious sportsmanship award. CCSOA is the organization of officials who referee all high school games in central Connecticut. Cornerstone, led by team captain, Gabriel Pekari, won the 2021 award from a pool of nearly 400 schools, for having exemplary sportsmanship that “permeates every part of the game.” Coach Keith Press attended the banquet at the Manchester Country Club to accept the award on Cornerstone's behalf. Congratulations to the entire team for showing what it means to be a light in such a significant manner!