In 2021, the North Atlanta men’s soccer team made history as they were crowned Regional Champions and made their first ever Final Four appearance. The historic playoff run was encapsulated by the slogan, “The Spirit Never Dies.” 365 days later, and the spirit is alive and well at the start of the Dubs’ season. The team led by captains Brent Shannon (Jr.), Ryan Soyah (Sr.), and Diego Fonseca (Jr.) are hungry to get back to the postseason, but have their eyes set on more than just the Final Four.

With just a short week between tryouts and the season debut against Atlanta International School (AIS), the captains have a lot on their plate. Despite being a relatively experienced team, the loss of seniors is a big blow to any team. For the Dubs it is a matter of regaining team chemistry and getting the new guys familiar with the game plan. For returning player and captain Brent Shannon, the message is clear, “Losing guys like Danny Gardner and Brian Justo leave a big hole in our team, but returning players are looking to keep their energy going this year and transfer it to our new freshmen. It’s a matter of filling the shoes of the guys we lost, no matter how impossible it seems.”

If last year was any indication of how dominant Dubs soccer can be, a playoff run seems inevitable for Shannon, Soyah, Fonseca, and the rest of the team. The looming threat of Covid-19, however, is the team’s biggest threat. Even with athletes getting tested more than once a week, conditioning and safety are more important than ever. “The team is doing everything that we can do to get into playoff shape and to avoid a COVID-19 issue. A deep run is our main goal. We are looking to make more noise than ever before by staying healthy and ready,” the captains said in a unified message.  

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and contagious atmosphere that Dub soccer creates, and being given the title of captain only elevates that risk. Captain Brent Shannon is constantly finding a way to balance the added pressure of captaining a soccer team along with his IB schedule, and extensive club and extracurricular routine. “Being a captain isn’t easy,” he said when asked about the pressure of his position. “My main goal is to always balance sports, school work, and free time. This year is no exception. With more needed contributions to the team, there is some added pressure this year, but, I, along with the team, am embracing it.”

The Dubs hope to kick off their season with a statement win against the AIS Eagles. The 2021-22 Dubs want to continue a dominant trend and truly make the Warriors a powerhouse on the soccer field. The spirit may never die, but allow me to prepare a new slogan for the Dubs, Go Fuerte and go Warriors!