This year’s Alcovy boys’ soccer team is four years in the making and ready to create its own mojo.

The 2013 Tigers have eight seniors returning from a team which went 9-5 and lost to McIntosh in the region tournament last season. In all, eight starters return to the 2013 Tigers, which have adopted the motto of “mojo” trying to capitalize on all the years of gaining experience and building team comrade.

“These guys have been building since they were in ninth and 10th grade when I forced some of them into the starting lineups back then,” Alcovy coach Chris Edgar said.

The Tigers have both their seniors back up top, three seniors in the midfield, three on defense and Lorenzo Kelly back between the pipes at goalkeeper.

“They played a lot of games together and they’ve gone through some bad times and some of the good times that come with high school soccer,” Edgar said. “They’re hungry; they just missed out of the state playoffs the last couple of years. They’re hungry and they want a good senior season this year.”

The season was set to get underway with a scrimmage at Rutland today, but was pushed back to Monday due to Rutland’s field being unplayable after Wednesday’s storms.

The Tigers will kick off the regular season at home against Rockdale at 7:30 following the Alcovy girls’ game.
Leading the charge will be returning Covington News’ All-County players Rysan Richardson and Uriel D’Andrade.
Richardson had 15 goals and four assists, leading Alcovy in 2012.

“He is just really matured into a good ball player,” Edgar said. “He’s strong, he’s fast and he’s worked diligently on his touch and his finishing abilities. He’s getting better every year with his passing ability, knowledge of the game and all those kinds of things.”

D’Andrade had five goals and seven assists. The two are among four Alcovy players being sought after by college soccer teams.

“We may end up having three or four guys out of our senior class get opportunities to play at the next level,” Edgar said.