Most schools around here don’t have soccer, but for AHS, soccer is a huge thing here for students. I recently talked with AHS Lady Soccer Coach Cassie Gregory and discussed what the soccer team could expect for this year. She is the soccer coach for both the Middle School and High School girls soccer teams. Both boys and girls are looking for a winning year and are excited to see how the season plays out. 

Coach Cassie explains, “I am honestly so excited for the upcoming season.  We have a lot of talent and a full roster this year, both of which are needed.”  She also explained she has been very impressed with the progress made, and she is hoping to make it to regionals. “If everyone gets in there and does the job they need to, there is no reason why we can't make it to regionals," she states. Most coaches have been coaching for years, but Gregory has been only been coaching for two seasons. 

Gregory grew up playing soccer at the recreational and competitive level in North Texas. She moved back to Oklahoma (but never talks) her Sophomore year and Soccer had no existence at all here. “Still being in love with the game I did anything I could to stay connected to it. I began helping my dad coach my little sister's teams and then it all took off from there.”

Some people have no clue at all how soccer works. Soccer is a game played on a full field. In a soccer match, two teams of 11 players will play for 90 minutes attempting to score goals by using everything but their hands and arms. A regulation soccer field is generally 120 yards long and about 65 to 70 yards wide. Soccer is one of the few games that can end in a tie. However, in high school soccer, if the game ends in a tie, the teams move to penalty kicks.  Soccer is played across the globe, and it's wildly popular.

You might not know some of the hard skills you can learn playing soccer,  but there are many. Students learn the skill of perseverance, and they also learn patience and responsibility. “It’s learning patience since goals are very precious in soccer. Most soccer games are not high scoring, so with that you have to learn to be patient and wait for your opportunities. Especially looking at it from a defensive side,”  stated Gregory. It does take a lot of skill for you to play but for the AHS Soccer team. They have all the skills you need to win. The AHS soccer team is hoping for a good season this year. With some games already being played, let's wish them good luck for their soccer season.