Bulldogs to establish new team leaders

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

The Flagler Palm Coast High School boys soccer team comes into a new season with a much different look.

Coach Noah Braun lost four seniors from last year’s team. Aside from what they brought to the soccer field each day, their leadership skills will also be missed.

But assistant coach Reg Monsanto hopes different players can fill the vacancies left by the graduated players.

Seniors Nico Medina, Mark Ayupov and Matt Mittleman should lead the team this season.

Last season, the Bulldogs finished 11-9-2 overall, with a 9-6-1-district record. FPC knocked off Deltona in the first round of the district tournament before losing to Spruce Creek in overtime, in the semifinals.

This year, the Bulldogs will try a new playing formation, a 4-3-3, meaning four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.

“That gives us more width while putting more of our players under more pressure to perform,” Monsanto said. “If they play as good as they’ve looked during training, we should see good results.”

“Half of the team is new,” he added. “We hope to see the chemistry take hold early in the seasons.”

‘Sal’s Army’
New this year, the Flagler Palm Coast boys soccer team will introduce Sal’s Army. It’s named after Sal Campanella, the late principal of the high school.

This will be a standing-only section for the entire game. Everyone in this section will wear green and white, and ideally, there will be drums and a lot of loud participation.

While sportsmanship is always the top priority, Sal’s Army will hopefully bring a more enthusiastic atmosphere to the team and the games.

Also, official Sal’s Army members will get free entry to all home and away games.

“The events surrounding an FPC soccer match are to provide our team with a true home field advantage, as well as celebrate the game in the most positive light we can,” Monsanto said.

Contact Andrew O’Brien at [email protected].

POCKET SCHEDULE
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11against Pine Ridge
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15against DeLand
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18against Mainland
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29@ University
7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6against Spruce Creek
7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9against New Smyrna Beach
7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13@ DeLand
7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16against Matanzas
7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4against Seabreeze
7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10against University
7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12@ Spruce Creek
7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20@ Deltona