As juniors, Boys Varsity Soccer captains hope to surpass predecessors

Tristan Hitchens-Brookins, Staff Writer|September 20, 2017

Jane Lagos

Junior captain Michael Forsgren manuevers around a defender.

Being a captain is an incredible honor and puts a large amount of responsibility on those individuals chosen. Juniors Michael Forsgren and Eric Lagos lead Spartan Boys Soccer this year; it’s Forsgren’s third and Lagos’s fourth year on varsity soccer, which has allowed them to watch their predecessors and learn what being a captain is about.

The captains have spent the majority of their lives playing soccer, and that experience has taught them both a lot about the game. “I started playing the sport at the age of four years old. I played because my entire family played,” Forsgren said. Lagos added, “I have been playing soccer for as long as I can remember.”

Forsgren brought lessons from being a club captain to his role: “I have been the captain for my club team many times,” he said.

Lagos, however, is experiencing captainship for the first time. “I have never been a captain before and I was excited to hear that I was [a captain] this year,” he said.

Both Lagos and Forsgren believe that positive reinforcement is a challenging yet worthwhile way to unite the team.

“I’d say always being a role model for the rest of the players of team [is essential]. Uniting the team together and making sure everyone is striving for a common goal [keeps us playing well],” Forsgren said.

“It’s hard to say, but gaining the respect and trust of the other people on the team is the most difficult and important,” Lagos said about leading.

Returning to the state tournament and surpassing their predecessors are common goals for the two captains. “We want to win conference and we want to go to state. We want to do better than we did last year,” Forsgren said.

“I want to go to state and play in the US Bank stadium,” Lagos said.

The team’s current record is 5-5-1. Their next game is against Minneapolis Roosevelt at Roosevelt on Sept. 23 at noon.