The 2016 boy’s soccer season begins on Friday and the coaching staff down to the players know that it will be hard work that determines their success.
Cinnaminson advanced to the sectional final in 2015, falling at home on penalty kicks to rival Delran. It was the third sectional final the Pirates played in under head coach Jason Meile.
This will be Meile’s fifth year at the helm of the program and the Pirates have a sectional title and a state final appearance during that time.
“What our goals are, we have to earn,” Meile said. “What your role was last year, you should have the expectation of being better. Just because you were on varsity last year, doesn’t mean you will be on varsity this year. Just because you practiced with varsity last year, but played JV, doesn’t mean you will play varsity this year. Everyone will compete for their spots. We’re getting that right now.”
Meile has been pleased with what his senior class has brought to the field so far during the pre-season.
“If the season were to start tomorrow, we’re probably starting four seniors. Two were starters last year, one was a starter but got hurt and the other was a role player.”
It’s not just the coaching staff that knows hard work translates to success. Meile is pleased with the enthusiasm the players are exhibiting each day.
“Their enthusiasm the last two weeks. We ran a number of double sessions the last two weeks. They seem like they want to be there. They seem like they want to be successful this year.”
Meile and the coaching staff have been emphasizing scoring opportunities and finishing on those opportunities all throughout the pre-season.
“One thing that we really need to improve on is to realize that we’re not guaranteed 10 scoring opportunities. We might have 10 shots because someone kicked the ball from 30 yards out and the keeper made the save.”
“We’ve been trying to establish with the kids that you’re not guaranteed multiple shots in the game. You need to take the best shot when you get the opportunity.”
Meile has been pleased with the defensive play of his team throughout scrimmages so far, crediting the senior leadership of the unit.
“We have Mike Deal in net and Jarrod Averill solidifies our back line. Those two make us comfortable no matter who we’re playing that we are going to be in every game.”
“We shouldn’t be giving up five goals per game. Our defense should be able to take a lot of pressure and respond positively.”
When asked about the recent success of the program and run of sectional final appearances, Meile credited the competitive mindset of the players.
“It’s a credit to the kids having that competitive mindset. Having the mindset that they want to get back to where they were. In the division that we play, we can’t afford to have lapses of concentration or play.”
“When we struggle, my job as a coach is to make an adjustment. I can’t be afraid to mix things up. Towards the end of last year, we changed our formation up. To the kids’ credit, they respond to it. They buy in and it has been a reason for our success.”
The players know it is a long road back to the sectional final, and Meile wants them to know it takes hard work and a desire to get better that can help them get back there.
“I emphasize to the kids that if you’re content with where you’re at, especially in August, then it’s going to be a very long season,” Meile said. “As we play, we should be learning from the last game, whether it’s a win or a loss.”
Per the norm, the Pirates will play a tough regular season schedule, which follows a tough scrimmage schedule. Meile spoke about the competition his team will face in 2016.
“We could scrimmage teams or play teams outside of our conference that would be a little easier, but I don’t think that’s preparing the kids for the mindset we have to have in the playoffs. We try not to get the kids too comfortable with where they’re at. They should always be thriving to get better game to game.”
The Pirates open the 2016 season at home on Friday, September 9 against Ocean City at 4pm.
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