The Sturgis East boys’ soccer team has kicked off the season with two wins against Sturgis West and Cape Cod Academy, a loss against Nantucket, and two draws against South Shore Christian and Cape Cod Tech. As the Storm aim for their fifth consecutive state tournament berth, Stormwatch sports reporter Peter Keefe met with boys’ soccer coach Brian Hastings to talk about the team and the coach’s hopes for the rest of season:
1) First of all, what are your goals, as a coach, for your team this year?
Every year our goals are to help each player reach his potential and do his best. As a team, we'll always have "ups & downs" so our overall goal is to leave a game knowing that we did all we could to win.
2) With a loss of so many valuable seniors last year, how are you filling their roles on the field in games and practices?
Each year, the "holes" get filled. Players step up and improve to the point where they can fill what needs to be filled.
3) Have you seen any new rising stars this year?
Even as we fill the holes, there are always some surprises. This year we have three very skilled freshmen on the varsity: Sawyer Gibbons, Mark Agostinelli and Jake LaMotte. These three players have all contributed to our success so far.
4) What do you think is the toughest team to beat, and how do you plan to beat them?
Nantucket is always tough. Last year, we tied them for the first time in school history. In our first meeting this year, we didn't do so well (4-0 loss) but, we're all looking forward to a rematch in October. Our plan to beat them is to score more goals than they do !!!
5) What are your hopes and plans on getting to the tournament?
This year, we have the toughest schedule that a boys’ soccer team has faced at Sturgis. We've added Cardinal Spellman, Falmouth Academy and Mashpee. That said, we still have a reasonable chance to qualify for the states. Only time and effort will tell.
6) How do you find each player's best position and the best starting lineup for the team, without disrupting team chemistry?
It's important for a coach to define roles and communicate them clearly. Some players are asked to play a different position because of a need in our system. Kevin Agostinelli is a good example of this. This year I've ask him to play a sweeper position because he is very talented and can "anchor" our defense. Although I sure Kevin would really like to be in another spot, he's doing is best to help our team. A starting lineup can vary depending on injuries and effort. It's still important to define roles and communicate changes ahead of time.
7) In your time as a coach here, do you believe that the talent level at Sturgis has increased year after year? If so, how has it improved?
That's a really tough question. In my first year we only had 16 players total and most of those players were freshmen. What I think is more appropriate to point out is that as Sturgis athletics finds success in many of its sports, the pride & tradition that athletes bring to the fields of play make them better as a team.
8) Finally, what do you feel is the most crucial aspect of a team to achieve success in a game?
I'm a firm believer in the fact that athletics can teach things that can't be learned in a classroom. While "winning" is always the goal of an athlete, nobody "wins" all of the time. That's as true for life as it is for athletics. The best that we all can do is to give our best (not almost best but BEST) effort in all that we do. We can't always control the outcome of things but we can control ourselves. If we've done all that we can, there is some success in there, just maybe not a "win". Over my career at Sturgis, I have seen "milestones" in the soccer program such as our tie with Nantucket. Just last week, we came from behind to tie South Shore Christian with 5 minutes left in the game. Was it a win...no. However we proved to ourselves that if you don't give up and work together, good things can happen. That's success.
The Sturgis Storm (2-1-2) continue their season with an away game against Cardinal Spellman on Friday.
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