Millbrook boys soccer
From chaser to target
Millbrook soccer coach Matt Edwards knows the Wildcats will sneak up on no one this season.
After achieving mild success since 2002, Millbrook entered the 2008 season on no ones' radar. To some teams, a contest with the Wildcats was formality. That's not much of a surprise considering Millbrook won just three games the year before.
But having compiled a 19-5 record last year, while battling for Cap-7 supremacy and storming into the fourth round of the NCHSAA playoffs, the Wildcats' cover as an underdog is officially blown.
"We were a bottom dweller — an easy game — before, and the element of surprise is definitely gone now," Edwards said.
Now, the Wildcats find themselves asking the question, "What do we do for a repeat?"
The good news is the Millbrook cupboard isn't bare — far from it, the coach explained.
While guys like David Brown have moved on to N.C. State, the Wildcats still return Connor Karr, an All-Regional player last fall.
"He was probably our most valuable offensive player, but you probably can't see it in the stats," Edwards said. "Everything he does for us, holding the ball, attacking, his vision — everybody is a better player with him.
"And you can see in practice why he is successful: he works harder than everybody else."
Karr shares Millbrook's captaincy with defender Matt Smith.
"He's a captain do to how hard he works, too," the coach said. "He is very committed to playing defense, tackling and winning balls.
I think that says a lot about him as a person."
Behind Karr and Smith, the Wildcats also return junior All-State keeper Spencer LaCivita — one of the gifted goalies in the state.
Edwards doesn't mince words in his description of LaCivita, calling his on-field skills "fantastic," and detailing the keeper's composure with the ball.
"What really separates him from the other goalkeepers in the state are his feet," the coach said. "He is the 11th player on the field. We can kick the ball back to him and he can help us reset everything. He has a great ability to read the game."
While there is established talent at the starter positions, Edwards explained much of the Wildcats' depth will come from last year's junior varsity team.
"We really had a lot of versatile guys who could play all over last year," the coach said. "This year, we have a lot defenders, a few forwards, and a couple guys playing a lot of minutes in the midfield."
While the versatility and depth might not be where he'd like it, Edwards complimented his squad's togetherness and mindset.
The Wildcats' camaraderie was most evident at the Campbell University team camp, where the Camels' coaching staff marveled at the squad's "locker mentality."
"They like each other and they are good guys," Edwards said. "I can't take credit for that. That's just who they are."
But that lends itself to another question, Who are they this season?
The Wildcats can't wait to find out for themselves.
"These guys expect to do well — to win," Edwards said. "I think that's a big thing when you are trying to change the culture of a program. And they are excited to see if we can be as good as we were last year."
Millbrook opens its season hosting East Wake Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 6:30 p.m.
