The 2019 campaign has begun for boys soccer at North Atlanta, and it is a season that brings a lot of promise as well as improvement. With the accumulation of new talent, strong veteran leadership, and a solid foundation of coaches and staff, the squad looks ready to make a winning season that can lead to a state playoff berth for the Warriors this year.

The season kicked off with a 1-0 scrimmage win over Chamblee in the home opener match, which was a pivotal first win to start off the run to a winning season. Since its first win, the team has gone on to have a record of 1 win, 2 losses, and one tie, with a win against North Atlanta’s rival Grady. Senior captain Evan Zappa sees the tough competitive region as a chance to improve holistically as a team, “As a team we have a lot of chemistry and skilled players that will help us compete against conference games,” he said. “Although our region is super competitive, we know that we have what it takes to compete on that level and we will continue to do that throughout the season.”

The team is led by a deep pool of coaches and captains, which gives the squad a depth on all aspects. Coaches Epimenio Jimenez, Jack Stenger, and Chris Mucha are at the helm of the squad, providing that guidance and knowledge of the game for the team.

Captains are seniors Evan Zappa and Nathan Kitts, both whom bring strong veteran leadership to the table in order to help guide the younger players. Captain Nathan Kitts knows that as a captain, he has a huge role to play not only for the squad, but for the program as well. “I am honored to be a captain this year, and I want to help push our team to have a successful winning season,” he said. “We all have such a strong bond and love for the game, so I know we will have a memorable season no matter what.”

Last season, the squad ended with a record of 4 wins and 11 losses, going for a grim no wins and 9 losses in region play. Facing conference powerhouses that have a deep pool of talent and structure, including conference powerhouses Alpharetta and Centennial, the team knows that they have to capitalize in all aspects in order to have a successful match.

With the rest of the season still left to go, the Warriors know that this season has the potential to show the true talent and passion of the squad.