On Oct. 27, the boys soccer team stepped onto the field for the last time during their 2021 season. Shady Side beat Freedom 6-2, which was an especially devastating loss for the team because it meant saying goodbye to their senior players. 

Of course, the boys’ season was also full of many memorable victories such as the game against South Side Beaver, on Oct. 20, where the boys dominated the game 7-1.  Senior Caleb Falk led the team with two goals. However, the game the boys will always remember is when on Oct. 7, they beat their biggest rivals, North Catholic, 2-1. North Catholic had already beat the boys 3-1 earlier in the season on Sept. 18, making the boys even more anxious to pull off a victory.  When Sophomore James Couch was able to score the game-winning goal within the last few minutes of the second half, the team did not hesitate to celebrate. Not only did the boys defeat a team that had been haunting them all season, but they also secured a spot in the WPIAL playoffs. 

  “The North Catholic game was one of the best games of my senior year because we normally lose to North Catholic, but we were able to pull off a win against them. I was even able to score a goal in that game,”  Falk said. 

Falk isn’t the only player who recalls beating North Catholic as the best game of the season, ask just about any player from the boys team, and they will rave about the game.

“My favorite memory would be the playoff game, being able to play my last game with everyone. Oh, yeah, and beating North Catholic,” senior Joseph Hartle said. 

Now, as the team prepares for their next season, they must account for filling the positions of the four strong senior players they will be losing. Seniors Jay Hessler, Kinsley Aswani, Falk and Hartle have been great assets to the Bulldogs during their season.

“We will surely miss the seniors both on and off the field, and what they bring for the team. But our younger players are gonna come together and fill the leadership roles that our seniors currently hold,” sophomore Dylan Scheel said. 

The boys look forward to new talent as well. Upcoming freshmen may change the game next year.

“I think the team is in good hands, they have a lot of good players and good freshmen coming up, so they’ll do really well,” Hartle said. 

Although official practices for next season have not started yet, the boys are already preparing themselves. Many are beginning to run to get in shape, playing indoor soccer throughout the winter months, or even just practicing with friends in order to secure time on the field for next year. 

Altogether, the boys’ season has been filled with many ups and downs. The boys have made many memories, achieved goals and strived through barriers.