A young Mainland soccer team focused on early, often production

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

The Mainland boys soccer team had a rough year in 2011, and most of their top scorers are now graduated. But head coach Mike Cole believes Eamonn Moore and his young roster can step up.

BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER

After a less-than-stellar season last year, the Mainland boys soccer team (5-13-1 in 2011) is looking to consistency, and its star player, Eamonn Moore, to lead them to better days.

“One of the goals we’ve set this year is (not to give up) easy goals,” head coach Mike Cole said. “We want to maintain the momentum. It’s always really kind of crushing when you concede an easy goal early. We don’t want to give up any easy goals, we want to maintain the momentum, and obviously part of that momentum is scoring early.”

The Buccaneers lost much of its scoring to graduation, so Cole is looking for more production out of players like Moore, who had nine goals and 10 assists last season.

Moore was a team captain last season, in his junior year. But Cole could tell he was a great player as a freshman, despite being sidelined part of the season with a broken ankle.

Moore was born in the area but moved to Ireland when he was 4 years old and returned when he was 14 years old. He said playing in Ireland gave him an advantage.

“It’s more quality, I guess,” Moore said of competition in Ireland. “I played on quality teams since I was like 8 (years old).”

And for his next stop in his playing career, Moore is eyeing Rollins College, Flagler College or the University of Central Florida.

“UCF might be a bit of a stretch,” Cole said. “But only time will tell.”

Similarly, only time will tell if Cole’s offseason adjustments, or his young team, will have the impact he wants. But he believes there’s potential on his roster.

“We finished last place in the District last year, and we stretched the No. 1 team in the District (Spruce Creek) to overtime,” Cole said. “So we are capable of producing, but lets produce earlier in the season.”

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Nov. 14: Crescent City, 3:45 p.m.

Nov. 19: Winter Springs, 3:45 p.m.

Nov. 20: @ Univeristy, 4 p.m.

Nov. 26: Deltona, 3:45 p.m.

Nov. 28: @ Evans, 6 p.m. (JV) / 7 p.m.

Nov. 30: @ DeLand, 5 p.m. (JV) / 6 p.m

ROSTER

7, Eamonn Moore, DEF

12, Levi Zinke, DEF

11, Nate Mead, DEF

9, Brandon Wesley, DEF