Head coach Ken Dildine has high hopes for the Liberty Christian soccer squad this season. 

Liberty Christian Academy returns a strong number of their players from last year’s team and added an additional five or six players to the roster, Dildine said. 

“We lost Zach (Dames) but the other kids are all here,” Dildine said. “I’ve also gained some more with the new enrollments and everything like that … I think we’re looking at around 18 to 19 kids right now.” 

Dildine thinks his experience last year in his first year at the helm of the program will help the Eagles on the soccer pitch this season. With more familiarity with the players, Dildine said he knows where he can push them. 

“I’m being a little more aggressive as far as a coach goes,” Dildine siad. “And being a little more strict and rules and regulations and stuff and what I expect to come into this year since it was my first year.” 

Dildine expects the Eagles to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, which is composed of four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards. Dildine anticipates they will attack more this year than last year. With the inexperience the Eagles possessed last season, Dildine tried to play a defensive oriented style. Dildine thinks this got the Eagles in trouble because when it was time to be aggressive, they did not know how to push the ball forward and attack on offense. 

“This year, I’m going to take a little bit more offensively and just keep pushing the ball and maneuvering the ball,” Dildine said. “And with the new group that we’ve got coming in, it’s really going to be a fun season for us to watch and watch the kids move the ball around.” 

Despite not having one practice with their full roster in attendance as of last week, Dildine had nine of his 11 starters picked out as of last week. Dildine confirmed he anticipates players to move to different positions on the field. 

The Eagles do not have many seniors and have a strong number of underclassmen. Dildine stressed through early practices, the players are moving the ball well and exceeding his expectations every day. Dildine also stressed the Eagles possess strong leadership this season. 

“It’s just going to be a fun year,” Dildine said. “As a coach, you always go in there looking to win every game. But I can honestly say that with the boys and with the talent that I’ve got right now, we’re going to be a totally different team than we were last year with the leadership and their drive to be that person that wants to play.”