“The Lads” started off their 2022 campaign strong, before being kicked in the face… literally. 

Eli Huey ‘23, the Boys Soccer goalkeeper, was struck in the face by a Forest Hills Eastern forward while diving to make a save in the second half of their match on Aug. 23.

“I was just hoping my nose wasn’t broken and that I wouldn’t need stitches… and I didn’t,” Huey said. 

The East Boys Soccer team got off to a strong start this season going 3-0. The Pioneers won their first contest 2-1 against Spring Lake. They followed up the Spring Lake game with a 4-1 win against Elk Rapids. 

Once The Lads traveled to Forest Hills Eastern they got a kick to the face. During a scrum in the Pioneer’s end of the field, a Forest Hill Eastern player was battling a Pioneer in front of the goal. Huey made a dive for the ball, and in doing so, was struck in the face by the Eastern forward. Huey was hit in both his left eye and nose. 

“The first thing when I came off the field was I was hoping I could get back on, but the trainer shot that down pretty quick,” Huey said. 

Huey’s thoughts after being kicked in the face resemble the team’s resilience this year.  

“We’ve given up the first goal a few times but we have fought back and we fight to the end a lot and we finish strong and that’s a good characteristic,” Huey said. 

The Pioneers’ resilience showed when they were able to beat FHE 2-0, even without their starting goalkeeper for nearly half the match. The resilience has also been reflected in their record, as the team has posted a 5-1-1 record so far this season. 

Captain and midfielder Logan Becker ‘23 said this year’s team has many versatile players.

“Two things that stand out to me are the character and depth of our team, we have a lot of guys that can play a lot of positions and do it well,” Becker said.

Becker also touched on the strong culture within the team this year compared to years past. 

“It’s been really great to see how a team with so many seniors and juniors has done such a good job of taking the sophomores under their wing,” Becker said, “and creating a real bond there, when maybe in the past we’ve struggled having a team that’s definitively together.”

The Pioneers are looking forward to traveling to Forest Hills Central on Saturday to take on the Rangers in a rivalry match.