Fargo Davies boys soccer looks to end streak of being second this year
FARGO, N.D. (BVM)– The North Dakota High School Activities Association announced on July 24 that it had approved guidelines for a return to fall sports.聽
鈥淚t always seemed to be progressing, especially with the way North Dakota runs, that we would be doing some sort of activity,鈥� Fargo Davies High School boys soccer team head coach Ian Costello said.聽
Still, as an assistant coach for the girls soccer team, Costello knew firsthand what it felt like to lose a season. As the summer progressed, both he and his players were worried about the season.
鈥淚 was really nervous about that,鈥� said Yonas Adams, a Fargo Davies senior and team captain. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think they would come out with this decision and I didn鈥檛 want my senior season to be cut short.鈥�
Even while he and his coaches were nervous about the future of the season, they still had to prepare for it.聽
鈥淲e started (captains practices) about two weeks after school ended,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淎s the captains, we tried to keep everyone safe.鈥�
鈥�罢丑别测鈥檙别 captains for a reason,鈥� Costello said. 鈥淭hey show their leadership. Those captains set the tone.鈥�
The practices have gone on throughout the summer but were always run in a safety-first manner. It was this mentality and the boys鈥� dedication to getting better even under strange circumstances that gave Costello a lot of confidence going into the Eagles鈥� first official practice on Aug. 3.
鈥淚 think my expectations will be similar to the past as far as where they should be when it comes to their soccer skills,鈥� Costello said.聽
Heading into his seventh year as the Eagles鈥� head coach, Costello and his players have worked hard to form a tradition of success at Davies. One that Costello often reminds his players of.
鈥淚 talk about the past and the fraternity being built with this program,鈥� Costello said. 鈥淵ou also owe it to the past teams to see what you can do and try to get over this little hill we鈥檝e been stuck on.鈥�
That hill is the state championship, which the Eagles have lost three years in a row 鈥� twice to Bismarck High School and once to West Fargo.聽聽
鈥淚 tell them this idea of never being satisfied,鈥� Costello said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e kind of laughed at it because we鈥檝e lost the state championship game the last three years so they keep saying, 鈥榶eah we鈥檙e not satisfied yet.鈥欌��
This senior class in particular is not satisfied. The players have spent their entire high school careers making it to the state championship only to lose. To them, this is the season to finish what they started. Win it all not just for them, but for the classes that came before them.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been to the state championship three times since my freshman year,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淓very year we have kids that are ready to step up because they know what needs to happen. I鈥檓 really excited to see what this group can do this year.鈥�
The Eagles enter this season similarly to how they entered last season 鈥� hungry and ready to prove they are not the underdogs they appear to be because of their youth.
Last year, they entered the season having lost 13 seniors and nine starters. Losing so many starters and senior leadership led to many thinking Davies would not be able to make it to a third straight state championship.
鈥淚t was something that just pushed us,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淲e still have that mindset of pushing through the doubts.鈥�
Davies is ready to do that again, but this year will be different than any other the players have experienced. Between the safety guidelines and the looming fear of having to postpone or even cancel the season, the Eagles will have to stay focused.
鈥淚 think I have to try and normalize the two hours they鈥檙e with me,鈥� Costello said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be interesting.鈥�
聽It will be difficult, but the Eagles are ready. Led by Adams, who missed last year鈥檚 state championship with a broken fibula, and other seniors like Pablo Nunez, Davies is ready to win the last game of the season.聽
鈥淢y goal is to make it back to state again and finally prove a point,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淲e just want to break that cycle and I feel like we have a chance to do that.”
