Developing defense has Falcons boys soccer soaring
Published: April 19, 2012
Don’t look now, Seoul Foreign and Gyeonggi Suwon International, but a Falcon is creeping up on you.
Since starting 3-4-1, Seoul American’s boys soccer team has been positively on fire, staying unbeaten in its last six matches, including Wednesday’s 3-2 edging of GSIS on the Falcons’ home Sims Field turf. David Voelker scored two goals, giving him a team-leading 11 this season, and David Neaverth added a goal and an assist.
The defense, a question mark entering the season, has suddenly become a strength of the team and mainly responsible for the Falcons’ rise to third place in the Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference Division I standings, with the postseason tournament eight days away.
“All along, we knew we had the offense,” coach Steve Boyd said. “It was a question of developing the defense. I knew it would take time to get the depth going.”
Boyd made some tweaks and adjustments, moving people around until he found just the right mix, and “we have six of them now,” he said of his defensive cadre.
Seoul American’s victory came despite the Falcons missing three starters, defender Harold Martin, forward Andrew Clark and midfielder Jay Han. “And we still won. We had some kids come off the bench and did a great job,” Boyd said.
The Falcons’ victory wasn’t the only surprise on Wednesday. For the third time in four regular-season matches, Korea International beat Seoul International 1-0, reinforcing Boyd’s belief that “on any given Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, anybody can beat any team in this league.”
