Team is Kickin’ Into the Playoffs
Evan Paez
After the first 12 games of the season, Titan soccer is red hot. With a current record of 10-1-1 and a conference record of 6-0, T.C. is rolling into the final three games of the season on a positive note. After 1-0, 3-0, and 4-2 wins versus Mt. Vernon, West Potomac, and Hayfield, respectively, the Titans are confident heading into the final stretch of the season before playoffs begin.
With 17 seniors the team is expereienced. They are used to the expectations that come with competition. Seniors Gabriel Hendi and Scott Fernandez lead the team as captains and under their leadership, T.C. is back for revenge after a lackluster 2017-18 season that ended with a regular season record of 6-4-5. While they were able to gain momentum towards the end of the season and into the postseason, their season was ultimately cut short with a tough 1-0 loss on penalties to JEB Stuart in the Region Semi Finals.
“[Last season] we started playing well at the end of the year, but we didn’t reach our full potential. The difference this season is that we are taking advantage of our opportunities and putting our chances away,” said Hendi.
After losing their first game of the season 2-1 to Justice in overtime, the Titans have gone 9-0-1 and conceded only three goals. So far T.C. has scored a total of 32 goals and conceded only seven, a testament to their lethal attack combined with a strong defensive core.
Leading the scoring for the Titans are Gabriel Hendi and Scott Fernandez. Each has six goals and four assists. Close behind are senior Abdullah Mohammed and junior Jackson Lewis who have four goals each.
Anchored in goal are two college-bound goalkeepers: Steven Gomez and Jack Grainger. Both have years of high school soccer experience and once the season began, head coach Peter Abed knew it would be impossible to choose between the two, so he plays both half and half.
“[The difference this year is that] We have a deeper squad with more quality, we have a much better playing style and we have players who can come in and make an immediate impact,” said Hendi.
This squad depth has allowed the Titans to maintain such a promising start and hopefully carry it into the postseason, where they seek vengeance from a disappointing playoff campaign last year.
The remaining schedule includes Osbourn Park at home for Senior Night and the completion of the regular season with two conference games versus Annandale and Mt. Vernon.
