This year, fall sports were approached in a completely different way in order to balance safety and physical activity and the boys soccer team was no exception.

Despite starting the season 0-4, they finished the season with a record of 6-9, proving the determination the team had to succeed despite obstacles. When prompted to describe his team’s season in one word, junior Dominic DiTommaso replied, “progress.”

The boys began their season with preseason conditioning practices in the summer. They were required to wear a mask before and after training, but permitted to take them off during activity. COVID guidelines required that teams begin practicing in smaller groups for a certain amount of time and gradually combine into larger groups until they could practice as a full team. This process was definitely odd for the players, but they adjusted well.

“The main goal this year for most people was to make playoffs, but as a team it was definitely working together and not as individuals. This year we definitely worked more as a team than by ourselves,” junior Jacob Ciganik said.

Through working together as a team, they were able to get in six quality wins for their season.

“We were more unified as one this year and it resulted in a lot more success throughout the season,” Ciganik said.

The highlight of the season was the team’s home victory against Pine Richland.

“Our home game against Pine Richland was our best game this year. After losing to them the first time we played them earlier this year, we upset them 2-1,” junior Jack Keenan said.

Although the 2020 season was not what the players hoped for since they did not qualify for WPIAL playoffs, the team was not unsuccessful as their final seven games show. The team will lose seven seniors, but the boys have confidence in the underclassmen to make bigger strides for next year.