Soccer: Knights, area programs maintain lofty goals despite changes

OAKWOOD -- Ever since May 2014, time has flowed like a river of mud for the Johnson boys soccer team.<br /> <br /> Things will pick up considerable speed this week for the Knights, however.<br /> <br /> After watching a state championship slip agonizingly from its grasp in last season's Class AAAA finale, Johnson will finally get back on the field for real this week -- along with teams throughout northeast Georgia -- as the 2015 season gets underway. According to coach Brian Shirley, the campaign could not have come soon enough.<br /> <br /> "The guys are ready to go; in every training session we've had since the end of last season they keep saying they've been ready since May," said Shirley, who watched his team go 21-2 in 2014, falling only to arch-rival Gainesville, 1-0 in a non-region battle and Dalton, 2-0 in the title showdown. "They're ready to use some of that momentum they built up last season."<br /> <br /> The same could be said for a number of programs around the area, as teams like Gainesville, Dawson County, North Hall, West Hall and Buford look to build on strong 2014 campaigns. The Red Elephants boys edged the Knights and fell in the 2014 quarterfinals to eventual Class AAAAA champ McIntosh. The Trojans and Spartans boys each reached the Class AAA semifinals, while the Tigers boys lost to eventual champion St. Pius 2-1 in second round. Meanwhile, Buford's girls and Dawson County's girls each advanced to the second round where tough draws saw them fall to eventual finalists Blessed Trinity and St. Pius, 3-1 and 1-0, respectively.<br /> <br /> In other words it was another typically-strong campaign for area soccer programs -- one that will take some hard work to out-do in 2015. That said, area teams are keen to have a go at it, none more so than Johnson -- even if the Knights expect some growing pains this in the early going.<br /> <br /> "We've got four freshmen on varsity this season," said Shirley, who returns eight players from last year's squad, including five full-time starters -- all of which will get their season started on Tuesday against Eastside. "We know there will be some ups and downs as those younger guys gain experience."<br /> <br /> Luckily Johnson's younger players have some veteran leadership around them, including striker Fabian Abarca (31 goals last season) and versatile standouts Bryant Anaya, Isaac Henry, Edgar Torres and Alberto del Toro.<br /> <br /> "It's always nice to have your leading scorer back. But they're all taking turns passing on their experiences to the younger guys," Shirley said. "And we're still a new team getting to know each other."<br /> <br /> New faces Josh Elizade, Rigo Campa, Marcos Vasquez, David Flores and senior Jonathan Rebollar -- who is healthy after a series of injuries kept him out of last season -- will all be looked to for key contributions, as the Knights maintain the slick passing attack that helped them overwhelm most opponents in 2014.<br /> <br /> "We're going to continue to play a possession game and keep the ball on the ground," Shirley said. "It's just a matter of finding guys to fill roles. But we play the same style in middle school, so it won't be a huge transition for the younger guys coming in. They'll know what we expect from them."<br /> <br /> Make no mistake, however, the transition to the next level could be the toughest part of the equation -- as Johnson preps for a schedule that includes a tough Region 8-AAAA slate that now includes a strong North Hall team led by a Johnson alum in Chris Henry, who just took the helm of the Trojans.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, the Knights also face a loaded non-region slate that includes old rival Gainesville, cross-town foe West Hall, East Hall, Class AAAAAA teams Habersham Central and Dacula and 2014 Class AAA runner-up Oconee County.<br /> <br /> "It's going to be tough, no doubt about it," Shirley said. "But our goals are still the same.<br /> <br /> "It's going to take some work, but we continue to have very high expectations."<br /> <br /> After a long wait, welcome to another soccer season in northeast Georgia.

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