Christ Church boys’ soccer has same goals despite moving up



By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Greenville – When you have won the third most boys’ soccer state championship in state history (14) at both the class A and class AA levels expectations are always high because the success has always been there but when you move up another level to AAA expectations may be tapered a bit. However, at Christ Church Episcopal the goals and expectations remain the same.

“My expectations have not changed with the move up to AAA,” said CCE Head Coach Russell Shelley. “My first priority is to establish a positive culture, foster positive relations, and to focus on the player and his development. If we are successful in those pursuits the wins will take care of themselves.”

Coach continued, “The transition to 3A has been pretty seamless, and I am happy with where we are as a team. I intentionally put together a difficult schedule. We scheduled several 5A schools, and I have been happy with our play against these schools.”

The Cavaliers currently sit at 7-7 overall and 5-2 in region 2 AAA after dropping a tough one to region leading Powdersville (15-1/7-0). As coach pointed out, that schedule was difficult as every team they have lost to has a winning record and is competing for a region championship.

“We are certainly competitive and want to win but testing ourselves against the best teams we can play is of the utmost importance,” coach Shelley. “We are playing a more attacking brand of soccer and as a result are creating better chances.”

What also has been a plus for the Cavaliers is the return of their three senior captains Payne Hornish, Elliott Jeray, and Rodrigo Marques. They have played in back-to-back state championship games so their experience in big games has certainly helped their younger teammates. All three are playing at a high level on the pitch.

Hornish and Marques are also returning All State selections at defense and midfield, respectively. While Jeray plays on the defensive side of field alongside Hornish.

Mateo Gartner Lavina is a junior forward playing well and is one of the top offensive threats on the pitch for the Cavs. He has an outstanding sophomore season.

Junior keeper William Ossman has been solid in net all season. He and the defense have not allowed more than three goals in any game this season despite playing some very good offensive teams. He has five shutouts on the season

Sophomores Hudson Temple, Alex Aquino, and Sheamus Schellinger have also established themselves as solid starters. Temple and Schellinger are at midfield while Aquino plays forward. Temple also sees time on the defensive side of the pitch.

Freshmen midfielder Sam Sutton is midfield has established himself as our starting 10.

Rounding out the Cav’s roster are seniors Alex Montgomery, Garrett Long and William Mims, juniors Bernardo Pompeu, Alexander Schmoll-Nassar, Ludwig Marschner, Ian Tucker, and Julian Monsell and sophomores Judd Windham, and Holden Hughes and freshmen Phen Wunder and Griffin Boyd.

The Cav’s have four games remaining in the season with three of them being region contests. Two of the three region games will be against rival St. Joseph’s Catholic School. The teams split their regular season matches last season but St. Joseph’s won the rubber match in the state finals.

They will travel Palmetto (region contest) and AAAAA River Bluff.

The Cavs can capture the second seed from region 2AAA if they can win their remaining region games. They will be a team to watch come playoff time as they know what it takes to make a deep run.