No one needs to inform Bradwell soccer coach Greg Cooke on the importance of tonight’s match with Windsor Forest.
The Tigers boys’ soccer team (8-1) is off to one of its best starts in recent history. At 7 p.m. at Lewis Frasier Middle School, they play one of Region 3-AAAAA’s top teams in Windsor Forest.
At stake is the possibility of hosting a state playoff game in April. The Tigers have not made the state playoffs since 2002 and have never hosted a playoff game.
“We’re having a good season but to have a great season you have to beat teams like Windsor to make a name for yourself,” Cooke said. “This will be one of our toughest challenges in a while.”
For the Tigers to be successful, their defense must play well.
“If our defense is strong, like it usually is and we play up to standard, then we have a very good shot at beating Windsor Forest,” Cooke said. “They are a tough team and it’s going to be a good game.”
The Tigers will line up with three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.
Cooke said he has not had a chance to see the Knights play this season but from what other coaches have told him,Windsor Forest is a fundamentally sound team. They have a good passing game and the kids have played with each other for a long time.
Cooke said it’s not how other teams play but how the Tigers play that will determine the outcome.
“If we do what we have to do, then we should do well,” he said. “We are going to stick with the game plan we’ve had all season. It’s worked and one of our team’s strengths is making teams play to our game.”
Tonight’s game is the first of five games that will determine the Tigers’ postseason fate. They host Johnson on Tuesday and travel to Windsor Forest on April 13. On April 14, they travel to Camden County and conclude the season on April 17 against Jenkins.
Those four teams along with Bradwell and Groves are fighting for the region’s four playoff spots.
The last five games can make it or break it for us,” Cooke said. “I’ve given the team a challenge to win out the rest of the season. We have to get into the mindset that losing is not an option.”
Before the big match, the Lady Tigers and Lady Knights will play at 5 p.m.
Bradwell graduated nine starters off last year’s team and is struggling, going 2-7. However, Cooke said the team is improving and is working hard in practice.
The Tigers boys’ soccer team (8-1) is off to one of its best starts in recent history. At 7 p.m. at Lewis Frasier Middle School, they play one of Region 3-AAAAA’s top teams in Windsor Forest.
At stake is the possibility of hosting a state playoff game in April. The Tigers have not made the state playoffs since 2002 and have never hosted a playoff game.
“We’re having a good season but to have a great season you have to beat teams like Windsor to make a name for yourself,” Cooke said. “This will be one of our toughest challenges in a while.”
For the Tigers to be successful, their defense must play well.
“If our defense is strong, like it usually is and we play up to standard, then we have a very good shot at beating Windsor Forest,” Cooke said. “They are a tough team and it’s going to be a good game.”
The Tigers will line up with three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.
Cooke said he has not had a chance to see the Knights play this season but from what other coaches have told him,Windsor Forest is a fundamentally sound team. They have a good passing game and the kids have played with each other for a long time.
Cooke said it’s not how other teams play but how the Tigers play that will determine the outcome.
“If we do what we have to do, then we should do well,” he said. “We are going to stick with the game plan we’ve had all season. It’s worked and one of our team’s strengths is making teams play to our game.”
Tonight’s game is the first of five games that will determine the Tigers’ postseason fate. They host Johnson on Tuesday and travel to Windsor Forest on April 13. On April 14, they travel to Camden County and conclude the season on April 17 against Jenkins.
Those four teams along with Bradwell and Groves are fighting for the region’s four playoff spots.
The last five games can make it or break it for us,” Cooke said. “I’ve given the team a challenge to win out the rest of the season. We have to get into the mindset that losing is not an option.”
Before the big match, the Lady Tigers and Lady Knights will play at 5 p.m.
Bradwell graduated nine starters off last year’s team and is struggling, going 2-7. However, Cooke said the team is improving and is working hard in practice.