Bamford plays big for Bucks - Mike Bamford may not be the biggest guy on the soccer pitch -- not by a long shot -- but what the Central Bucks West senior captain lacks in height, he more than makes up for in effort.
"Michael is a kid that's maybe 5-foot-6, 5-foot-7, and he plays like he's 6-foot-4," said West coach Steve Detweiler. "That's all about heart, and it shows you how big his heart is. He wants to win every ball. He'll defend a 6-foot-4 kid and he'll win head balls over him."
That desire has been key to Bamford's success on the field, and has been a key to the Bucks' record thus far. Coming off a 7-9-2 record in 2010, the Bucks currently stand at 5-4-2 overall, 4-3-1 (tied for third) in the Suburban One Continental Conference.
That's pretty impressive, especially considering the Bucks are playing with an inexperienced sophomore goalkeeper following the loss of all-league keeper Ray Downs to a knee injury that occurred before the season.
But that's where Bamford has truly stepped up, Detweiler said.
"This year, Michael's leadership has been really important in that we have a goalkeeper who's coming into the season, who was expected to be our backup," Detweiler said. "We had the injury to Ray, so Redd (Brown) becomes the number one and it's a trial by fire. And Michael has really controlled things in front of him and helped him communicate. Day in and day out, Michael has really stepped up and done a great job keeping us in games."
Bamford's greatest asset, according to Detweiler, is the speed at which he can read and play the game.
"Tactically and technically, he understands the game at a level and can play at a speed that a lot of other players struggle with," the Bucks’ coach said. "In terms of keeping up with the game and seeing it and understanding and being able to anticipate instead of react -- that's something Michael does well."
And he's done so in a position different from where he has played for much of his soccer career. Bamford plays midfielder for his club team, but has patrolled the defense for the past two seasons for the Bucks. It's where the team needed him, and Bamford was more than willing to make the move if that's what it took to help the team succeed.
The Bucks are just two wins shy of last year's total and remain in the hunt for the conference title as well as a district berth. And much of that credit, Detweiler said, goes to Bamford and his fellow seniors.
"Last year, his strength and tenacity and the way he reads the game really could help us in the backfield, so he's played in the center back role for the better part of the last two years," Detweiler said. "Mike was a captain for us last year as well. His leadership is something he's relied on. He works harder than anyone on the playing field and on the game field. He's one of those kids who just loves the game and will do whatever his coaches ask of him to make the team successful.
"He puts the team first. That's something that's really been important with this year's team. They play for the name on front of the jerseys, not the names on the back. And a lot of that comes from Michael and the other senior leaders as well."
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Goldberg leaving a legacy - As a senior, you want go out with a bang in your final season on the athletic fields ... to help the team reach new levels of success. To leave a lasting legacy.
With a first-year coach and a young, inexperienced team, things aren't quite going that way for Cheltenham's seniors. But for David Goldberg, there's no doubt that he's leaving a legacy.
"At times I've pulled him aside and said, 'I would love to surround you with a veteran team and see what you could do,' but that's not what we are," said Panthers' coach Chuck Gesing. "David understands that and accepts the situation. I'm sure it's not easy for him. You want to have a great senior season, but sometimes the goal of your senior season might be developing younger players, which I feel he's definitely doing."
Goldberg is the leading scorer on a Cheltenham team that sits at 1-5-2 overall, 1-4-1 in the American Conference. The Panthers are no stranger to overtimes this season, and while the Panthers have yet to win an overtime game, Gesing is hoping that Goldberg's leadership and desire could help get the team over the top before the season ends ... and in the future.
"When David's on, we're a much better team. But when he's working hard, nobody has an excuse not to work hard," Gesing said. "Recently we have not had a lot of success on the scoreboard, but we're still staying competitive in each game because he's working hard. For a leader to step up like that and work hard every game, no one else has any excuses, that's what's keeping us in games."
Goldberg leads the Panthers in goals and shots this season, but his greatest assets cannot be measured in points.
"David knows he's going to get shots throughout the game and that his teammates are looking to him to score, but he also knows he can't do it alone," Gesing said. "He's got great field vision, and he's not afraid to give the ball up to set up teammates. And even though this year we're not scoring as much, he's still willing to give the ball up and be a team player."
Goldberg has also stepped up his game in terms of making his words speak as loudly as his actions.
"He'll say things, but he'll be very blunt and to the point. He calls it like he sees it," Gesing said. "I have encouraged him, since he's playing up top, to turn around and say to the defense, 'This guy needs to be marked up, that guy needs to be marked up,' and he has done it. I am pleased with his vocal leadership this year."
Gesing has no doubts that Goldberg has what it takes to bring his game to the next level. And while he's doing so, Goldberg is providing an invaluable leader for a young team to observe and emulate.
That's going to help the Panthers in the future ... and maybe even help them turn things around on the scoreboard and in the win column in the second half of the season.
"David might not be the guy that dominates for 80 minutes, but if you're well-versed in the game, you can see he stands out," Gesing said. "People who know the game will see him and know he's a dangerous player.
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Steady Waters leads Falcons - Not much has changed since Sawyer Waters first suited up for Pennsbury's varsity soccer team as a sophomore. He's still just as intense a player. The Falcons are still a National Conference and district contender.
And he's still just as quick to be a vocal leader and field general.
"Sawyer wants to win and he is going to demand that from the players around him, whether it's when he was a sophomore playing with guys who were heading off to Division I colleges, or now whether it's him playing with sophomores," said Pennsbury coach Tom Stoddart. "He expects everyone to play at a certain level. He's definitely not one to be shy to tell people what needs to get done."
A senior who is a two-year captain of the Falcons, Sawyer was a sophomore on the squad that won the National Conference title. As a junior, the Falcons fell out of the title picture, but put together an exceptional postseason run.
"We switched him into the midfield last year, and he was a driving force on a team that went farther than any team had gone before," Stoddart said of the state quarterfinal squad.
This year, Pennsbury sits near the top of the National Conference again and is in control of its own destiny. The Falcons, one of only two Suburban One teams that are undefeated in league play, sit at 5-0-1 (6-1-1 overall), three points behind Council Rock North (6-1-1).
With Waters back on defense this year, his role has expanded.
"He can basically quarterback the team from there," Stoddart said. "He's definitely more vocal, more ready to get in people's faces. And the kids are able to take it, but they know he means business. He's an intimidating-looking dude.
"We really rely on Sawyer's services. He's scored three goals for us, but he also makes things happen up and down the field. He's definitely a key player for us."
One word Stoddart said comes to mind when describing Waters is "steady," and that applies to his life off the soccer field as well.
"Everything he does in life is very steady," Stoddart said. "He's a great student, a top-level student, he's a very consistent and dependable kind of guy. And he's also been that way for our program every year."
That leadership and adaptability will be key for the Falcons as the conference title picture comes more into focus in the coming weeks ... not to mention the district tournament picture.
"Sawyer's not going to be the guy where you say, 'Look at that fantastic thing he does,' he's just going to be the guy who can do everything very well," Stoddart said. "He can dribble the ball, pass the ball, he can lead, he's always in the right position. He makes things happen out there for us."
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