Displaying items by tag: Gary Preece

Photos by SuperSource Media, LLC

BALLSTON SPA — Garry Preece has been coaching the Ballston Spa Scotties varsity soccer team for ten years and this is the first year in a while that he’s had a young and talented team.

"I have a very young, actually talented, soccer team. Which I haven't had that in the past. I have a lot of soccer players. Usually it's a variety of athletes and soccer players but this year it's soccer players. It's a very young team with eight or nine tenth graders,” he explained.

He still has seven seniors, after having several players graduate last year.

“It's not a total clear-out. It's balanced by all of the grade levels,” he said.

His star player?

“Mikey Robyck, he’s a junior. He's good on the ball, has great speed, and distributes well,” Preece complimented.

Representing the under-dogs is Ethan Cook.

"He's a 10th grader, he probably grew a foot. Tremendous, very skilled. He wins every ball and brings it down out of the air. Great pick up,” Preece said.

Preece’s goalie was injured in the Niskayuna game.

"He's phenomenal but I don't really have a back-up goalie but he's back. We were tight with Niskayuna but once he went down they pummeled us the rest of the game. We were in trouble,” Preece said.

Last year, the Scotties lost in the first round of Sectionals. Their goal this year?

“We're in the As this year so the goal is to win sectionals,” he said.

"I've been coaching for 10 years. I don't really look at teams as rivals. If you win Sectionals, everyone supports you. So, I don't really feel like it's that kind of conference where there are big rivals. I feel like it's more of a 'hey we're going to play each other and whoever wins, afterwards we're going to shake hands and it's good luck in the next game,’” Preece stated.

For upcoming games, check out our Sports at a Glance page.