'Confidence rising': Jackson boys soccer looks to match senior leaders' intensity, effort
Expectations are always high for the Jackson boys soccer team. That doesn't mean the season is ever going to be easy. Such has been the case in 2023 so far. The Polar Bears had a number of returning lettermen back this season but some of them have had to shift positions resulting in some growing pains.
Jackson started the year with a tie against Stow and a loss to Medina before finding their footing. The Polar Bears have rallied for impressive wins over perennial power Hudson and Federal League opponent Green. After a 2-0 win over Perry on Monday, the Bears are 4-1-2 overall and 2-0 in the Federal League.
"We're coming around," Jackson head coach Michael Biros. "We had a lot of people back but it's taking us some time to figure out who is exactly going to play where and when. We're starting to see more consistency as of late and the mood around the team is positive."
Jackson has a number of players capable of putting the ball in the back of the net. Senior captains Geoffrey Dolan and Isaiah Allen are two of the best at it. The slow start to the season caught the attention of both quickly.
"It made us bring up our intensity level and definitely increased our sense of urgency," Dolan said. "We are seniors this year and we know we have a limited number of games left in our careers. It really made us want to make the most of every game we have left."
That sense of urgency from the captains seems to have been noticed by teammates.
"Most of the guys already wanted to have a successful season badly," Allen said. "I think when they see how much we want to be successful that kind of flows into them and I've noticed others have been picking up their intensity level as well."
That intensity and urgency when paired with the effort Jackson shows on the pitch is proving to be a winning combination.
"Effort is never a complaint with these kids," Biros said. "They always come in and work hard and give you everything that they have and do whatever we ask of them."
Having positive results of late are only going to help Jackson's development.
"I can feel our confidence rising," Allen said. "We just need to keep doing what we are doing and working hard. All of us have a lot we want to prove to ourselves and each other this season."
The Polar Bears are hoping that combination of intensity and effort carries them deep into the postseason as it has for several Jackson teams in the past.
"As long as we continue to work hard I feel like the sky is the limit for us this season," Dolan said.
Reach Cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com
On X: @chickmanREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson High School boys soccer feeling sense of urgency
