Colts Soccer aims for redemption season in 2020
Just like most season before, CBA Soccer enters the 2020 fall season with high hopes.
Although this year continues to be unlike any other, the team won’t let it get in the way of its championship aspirations.
Due to COVID-19, the soccer team had some speed bumps to overcome before the regular season could get underway. After a long-awaited debut, the Colts will open up their season this Saturday against Rumson-Fair Haven at CBA.
CBA’s 2019 season came to an end with a heartbreaking loss to St. Augustine in the sectional final. With plenty of motivation to get back to the top, senior goalkeeper Michael Jakub is confident in his team.
“Although the season is shortened, my goal is to finish with an undefeated record and win a championship,” Jakub said with no hesitation.
As the Colts’ keeper mentioned, the season will be shortened due to state protocols for COVID-19. CBA will open a week later than planned due to school precautions, which brings up obvious questions about team chemistry and readiness.
“Well, we have been in [precautionary] quarantine for the past two weeks, and will have one practice before our first game on Saturday,” Jakub said.
While not the most ideal scenario, playing games is something the Colts will not take for granted. However, Jakub will truly be missing a major aspect of the game day experience.
“The part that hurts the most for me is that the only fans allowed at games are family members.”
Of course, the Colt Crazies are unmatched in terms bring energy for the CBA players to feed off of. Jakub knows it will take some getting used to when they hear mostly silence after a big goal. Even with the new rules and protocols to ensure players’ safety, the Colts have tunnel vision to end this season off at the top.
“We just have to trust our teammates more,” Jakub said. “This year, we have a great group of leaders that will be able to create plays and opportunities we didn’t have last year.”
And with Jakub and his fellow seniors entering the final season of their CBA careers, he couldn’t help but to reflect on what playing soccer at the Academy has meant to him.
“The main takeaways were the bonds I made,” he said. “I have made life-long friendships and created great memories that I will think about throughout my entire life.”
