The North Central boys’ soccer team has kicked off their season showing determination as they work to reach their goals this year.

Senior captain Micheal Nill has set the expectation outlining the Panthers goals for the season.

“I’d say [my expectations] for the team are winning county and of course winning state,” Nill said.

With a younger roster and new head coach, questions brewed about how well the team would come together. So far, players say the team’s strengths are quite obvious.

“Every good team has a heartbeat, and for this team it’s our midfield. Our biggest strength is our midfield and our ability to control the game,” junior Myers Bowden said.

Head coach Ric Huffman confirmed that the team is still finding its identity, but emphasized that the group is very driven.

“With this being my first year, it is hard to pinpoint where the expectations are in regards to results. It is my hope that the results of the games will be a by-product of the hard work and preparations we put in during training. I also expect to learn from our mistakes and strive for improvement every day,” Huffman said.

The Panthers play a very possession based style focusing on keeping the ball and breaking down opponents.

“I would say our style of play is fluid and possession dominant,” Bowden said.

The Panthers are exciting to watch and play an attractive style of soccer.

“Come out and watch us play! We will be fun to watch. We try to get everyone involved in our attack. It should be an attractive and fun environment for the boys to play in,” Huffman said.

Team chemistry shines as one of the strengths for the Panthers.

“Even as captain, it’s not like I’m above everybody, we’re all equals. It makes us see each other more like teammates than rivals,” Nill said.

This team is led by a strong group of seniors helping their younger teammates throughout the season.

“We have a tremendous group of seniors with some exceptional leaders. They have facilitated building good chemistry amongst the team, and it is neat to see them playing for each other on the field,” Huffman said.

Players are aware that there will be many challenges during the season and are prepared to face them head on.

“The challenge now is staying focused, not getting cocky and carrying out our jobs,” Nill said.

Coach Huffman agreed that focus will be a key component to winning.

“We have to stay consistent and focused on our approach to each game. There is a lot of talent in the conference this year. Any team is capable of winning any game,”Huffman said.

Even though the season has already kicked off, improvement is still the focus of this group.

“We’ve been working on switching the ball through the middle and communicating more as a team. We’ll keep working hard at practice to make sure we’re prepared for every game,” Bowden said.

The coaching staff has confirmed the improvement and preparation is key.

“We prepare every day knowing that whoever is on the other side of the field is going to do everything they can to beat us. We look at film, we study the tendencies of our opponents and that provides us the information to create a strategy to provide the best chance for success,” Huffman said.

When it comes to upcoming games, a few stand out.

“Carmel on senior night, we always have a massive game against them,” Nill said.

Another game standing out is Lawrence Central.

“I think Lawrence Central is going to be our hardest game,” Bowden said.

With this being some players last season playing high school soccer they want to make an impact on and off the field.

“I hope people remember me not just for what I did on the field, but for who I am. I try to connect with the younger guys, make people laugh and just have fun with everybody,” Nill said.

Coach Huffman wants to continue building a program that reflects North Central’s tradition and prepares players for the future.

“Coaching at North Central is a tremendous honor and opportunity. There is a rich heritage of excellence and the seven state championships speak for themselves. We have worked hard to create an environment that players strive to be in, and we want all players to aspire to be a part of the varsity squad and be proud of that selection,” Huffman said.