by Sophia Togneri
A 4-3 win over Marlborough last week helped to punch Hudson boys soccer’s ticket to the playoffs. The Big Red caught up with one of the captains of the team, Mike Conley.
Q: What do you think the team is doing well this season, and what do you need to continue doing well as you go into the playoffs?
Mike Conley: We play hard. We don’t let them have the ball at all. We got a lot of haters, and they don’t like when we play aggressive. They don’t want to see us win.
Q: What’s something that you have to work on throughout the playoffs?
Mike Conley: Being consistent. Not shutting off for 10 minutes of the game because that’s how we’re gonna lose. Also, some of the younger kids have to step up and not be soft and not be afraid of the ball.
Q: What has made this season different from past ones?
Mike Conley: It’s our last chance. Usually in the past years there’s only been a few kids who were good and then just fill in players. This year we have a solid line of kids who can play.
Q: What’s something you’ve improved most this season?
Mike Conley: Being aggressive. It’s a really young team this year with a lot of new kids, so they’re used to JV soccer, which is a lot slower and a lot less contact. I think that as the season’s gone on, they’ve gotten a lot tougher.
Q: Can you compare this year to your freshman year — or your first year on varsity?
Mike Conley: We have also gotten a lot more physical since then. Before we didn’t really play as physically…For the younger kids [it’s still difficult]. We’re the older kids now. So now it doesn’t seem as physically difficult for us, but for the younger kids, I was in their position. I know how tough it is for them to play against kids who are three years older than them.
