Soccer
Favorite athlete: Joel Embiid
Favorite team: Chelsea FC
Favorite memory competing in sports: Winning the District Championship this year.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: Trying to throw the ball in and it slipped and went backwards.
Music on mobile device: Rap
Future plans: Go to college to study finance and play soccer.
Words to live by: “Failure defeats losers, but inspires winners.”
One goal before turning 30: Own my own business.
One thing people don’t know about me: I have played on an indoor team with my friends from West since 2nd grade.
By Mary Jane Souder
Mention the name Carson Snyder to Stefan Szygiel, and it’s a safe bet the Central Bucks West soccer coach will somewhere in the conversation refer to his senior captain as a ‘West kid.’
And what exactly is a West kid?
“Understanding that you’re part of something bigger than your own individual accolades,” Szygiel said. “That you’re not only representing CB West but representing the Doylestown community on and off the field, and deep down, you’re willing to give yourself to the program no matter what it takes.”
That, in a nutshell, describes Snyder, who’s been a part of West’s varsity for four years and a fixture in the central midfield the last two years. While he might not fall into the category of headliner on a team that included all-state goalie Dylan Smith, his importance to the Bucks’ run to a District One 4A title cannot be overstated.
“Carson, for me, is an all-timer,” Szygiel said. “He was part of a senior class that was a special class, a real tight group with camaraderie, talent and just a nice blend of personalities.
“Carson always, even as a freshman when he came in, was very talented. By the end of his freshman year, he was already a swing player. He was a guy we knew we could put a lot of stock in. We knew he’d eventually end up as a key part of our central midfield, which obviously last year and this year is unquestioned with what he did for us.”
Snyder was a key player on a squad that took the program to new heights, advancing to the PIAA 4A state semifinals last year and this year earning a share of the SOL Continental Conference title and going on to win the program’s first ever district title.
“The thing about him was he wasn’t always recognized for the amount of work he put in on the defensive side and in the transitional phase of the game,” Szygiel said. “We define players now who are attacking players. It’s always about statistics, and the reality is if we averaged out minutes from the past two seasons he’d easily be in the top three for minutes played.
“That’s a testament to his ability to defend, attack and do everything in between for us. We valued him that highly. He was in a captain role as a senior, and he had such a great consistent career for us.”
If it were up to Snyder, he’d be on the field every minute of every game.
“I just feel like I’m ready to give my all for my team, and I know they’ll do the exact same thing for me, so I’m just going to keep going for them.”
Even, it seems, when his coach wanted to give him a bit of a break late in the season.
“He’s the kind of guy you have to tell him sometimes – rest yourself a little, rest your legs, rest your mind,” Szygiel said. “All he wanted to do was play.
“The kid’s a soccer junkie through and through. He loves the game, flat out, and he respects the game.”
*****
Snyder has been playing soccer for as long as he can remember. He also played baseball and basketball, but soccer easily trumped both of those sports.
“It’s just something I took to,” he said. “I liked it because there’s a lot you can do with it, whether it’s going to shoot around with friends or play in leagues with your friends.”
And friends have been a key component of soccer for Snyder, who was one of 15 seniors on this year’s veteran squad.
“Me and my friends have been playing together since second grade,” he said. “We always had a lot of camaraderie.
“When we all finally got old enough to start playing, it just clicked. We’ve been preparing for this since we were younger. Middle school I don’t think we ever lost a game.”
After earning a berth in districts when Snyder was a freshman and sophomore, the Bucks had a breakout season last year, finishing fourth in the District One 4A Tournament and advancing to the state semifinals.
“Everything about last year was great,” Snyder said. “Even off the field, we were all best friends and we hung out a lot.
“No one really expected it from us, but we knew we could do it. We took a lot of people by surprise.”
On the heels of last year’s success, expectations were decidedly high entering the season this fall, and the Bucks did not disappoint. They tied a talented North Penn squad for the SOL Continental Conference title, splitting the two regular season games. The Bucks, who led 2-0 at halftime, fell in the first meeting 4-2 but turnED the tables in the rematch, rallying from behind for a 4-3 win.
“We knew they did it to us, and we knew we could do it right back at them,” Snyder said. “After that win, we felt like we could beat anyone, and that really helped the last third of the season and into the playoffs.”
As fate would have it, the two SOL powers met again in the District One 4A quarterfinals. It was arguably the most exciting game of the postseason with the Bucks eking out a 3-2 win in penalty kicks after the two teams battled to 1-1 tie after regulation and two overtime periods.
“That was probably the best high school game I have ever played in,” Snyder said. “A lot of emotions and a lot of heart went into that game. That was just a great feeling.”
The Bucks went on to edge Spring-Ford 1-0 in the district semifinals and then eked out a 2-1 win over Abington in the district title game.
“I know both teams wanted it so badly,” Snyder said of the title game. “It was just an absolute battle. They were also really good, so to win that was one of the greatest feelings.”
The euphoria of that win turned into heartbreak when the Bucks – with aspirations to make a state title run – were stunned by Central Dauphin 2-1 in overtime in the opening round of states.
“We went into that game, and it was tough to get back up for it because we just played in the district championship and won,” Snyder said. “We came out a little flat but still got the lead.
“They came back and tied it, but we still dominated them, and just out of nowhere they come down and scord on us, and it’s over. There were a lot of emotions there. It was tough to see it end, especially with all my friends on the field who I’ve known for so long. I think about it a lot.”
That loss still stings, and if Snyder could still be playing, he would be.
“With Carson, all four years he was with us, he wanted to do everything possible to help us get better,” Szygiel said. “Carson led by his consistency day in and day out.
“In the high school game, it’s easy for people to gravitate toward one or two players and consistently focus on them. I get that, but for me, we have to take a deeper look. The machine doesn’t work without Carson in the midfield. It just doesn’t.”
There’s no mistaking the special place West soccer had in the senior captain’s high school experience.
“It’s amazing because at this point I think we’re considered the best team in West history, and to be part of that is incredible,” Snyder said. “I wouldn’t enjoy high school without it.”
Snyder – who plays for Warrington Union on the club circuit - plans to continue playing soccer at the collegiate level and is considering the University of Scranton, Moravian and York. He will major in finance or business administration.
Although his high school playing days are over, Snyder will not soon be forgotten.
“He came into the program, and we knew the talent was there,” Szygiel said. “I think he’s leaving the program as a guy we’ll always refer to and reference. We want players who can do the things he did in the midfield for us.
“For me, one of his best attributes is how much he loves being a West kid. Not every player fully buys into what you’re trying to do. You can’t get 100 percent buy-in from 100 percent of your program. It’s just impossible. You need the right ones to buy in and you hope the others will follow in those footsteps.”
