For Heritage Academy boys soccer, slew of rainouts hasn't dampened spirits - The Commercial Dispatch

For Heritage Academy boys soccer, slew of rainouts hasn't dampened spirits - The Commercial Dispatch

The Heritage Academy boys soccer team can add another column to its record this season.

So far, the Patriots have three wins to their name. They've lost twice. And they've had a whopping five matches rained out or canceled due to weather, including Tuesday's home match against Magnolia Heights.

That's got senior striker Jonathan Swartz and his teammates a little frustrated.

"I just want to play," said Swartz, who found out about the ill fate of Tuesday's match during school earlier that afternoon. "That's why I'm on the team: just so we can play games."

The Pats haven't gotten to play very many so far this year, but they're starting to make them count. Heritage Academy's lone district match of the season, a 5-0 win over Lamar School in Meridian on Jan. 13, was its best effort of the year, Swartz said.

"We played together, played as a team," he said. "It showed at the very end."

Swartz is one of the team's two captains, leads the Patriots in scoring and had a hat trick in the win against Lamar, but he's earned somewhat of a misnomer from coach Joe Asadi.

"Jonathan is my benchwarmer," Asadi said. "We joke that Jonathan misfires so many shots that I gave him the title 'benchwarmer.'"

Even through the nickname and the banter, Asadi knows what he's got in Swartz.

"I'm gonna miss him next year," Asadi said. "He does what it takes to be a captain even though we joke with him. Today, he was the fourth one who came in for practice. I said, 'Keep the bench warm.'"

The atmosphere is familial among the Patriots' nine seniors, many of whom have played together since middle school, and Asadi, who is now in his 15th season coaching the team.

Swartz started playing in seventh grade; his co-captain, center midfielder Noel Fisher, moved in during his eighth-grade year. That's given the Patriots plenty of experience to build off.

"Just playing with all these guys, we have good chemistry together," Swartz said. "We think what each other are thinking."

Now, after four straight years falling just short -- the Patriots lost in the state championship match in 2016 and 2019 and lost in the north state final in 2017 and 2018 -- Heritage Academy is thinking about one thing: a title.

"We've just gotta keep going," Swartz said. "Can't lose this year."

Asadi thinks the Patriots have the team to reach that goal. Swartz's scoring skill, Fisher's speed and stellar performances from senior goalkeeper Parker Maner in goal and sophomore midfielder Todd Sharp have given the Patriots a great foundation.

Sharp, originally an excellent goalkeeper, was installed in the center midfield by Asadi, though the sophomore will be called upon if Maner is injured.

"He's got a very, very bright future for the team," Asadi said.

Though the Patriots have plenty of seniors, they're a young team, Asadi said. Sharp and defenseman Brayden Oswalt help lead the Patriots' youth movement.

"I've got more young players than ever," Asadi said. "It's very promising for the future of this school."

With plenty of players who have committed their time to other sports as well, Asadi has had some difficulty getting everyone together. Thanksgiving and Christmas break cut into practice time, too.

"Keeping everyone fresh and focused on what they learn is hard," Asadi said. "Basically, we start our season two times: one when we start practicing and one after Christmas."

The Patriots are well into that second season by now, set to play just four matches before playoffs start Feb. 17. And while rain and cold will play their part, Swartz and Heritage Academy are excited for what's to come.

"I think we have a pretty good chance this year," Swartz said.

2020-01-23 03:08:28Z
https://www.cdispatch.com/sports/article.asp?aid=78786

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