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11/30/2016 11:00 PMSoccer has always been Ian Slattery’s favorite sport and his pride for pitch was on full display this fall as the sophomore goalie was like a brick wall for the Indians throughout the playoffs.
Ian grabbed some significant minutes in net toward the end of the regular season and earned his first start in Guilford’s SCC Tournament quarterfinal win versus Hand that came down to penalty kicks. From there, Ian continued stifling the opposition’s offense by allowing just one regulation goal during the team’s three State Tournament victories to push the Indians to their first semifinal appearance in five years.
“I love the camaraderie of team sports and having a connection with everyone over a common goal. It was all nerve-racking for me, but cool,” says Ian. “That first win against Hand was important for my confidence.”
Ian adds that he never could have seen such instant success as a sophomore without the help of a solid crop of defenders in front of him.
“I have to mention my defense,” he continues. “I feel that it is important that they get the recognition they deserve because, being a goalkeeper, my success is almost entirely dependent on their ability and I was lucky enough to play with a very talented group that encouraged me late in the year, even though I am a sophomore. They were Ben Cousins, Ethan Skinner, Sam Dombroski, Justin O’Leary, and Tim Weil. It was a great run and I can’t wait to see how this team does in years to come.”
After his Indians beat Hand in penalty kicks during the SCC tourney, Ian was right back in the pressure cooker when Guilford’s second round contest in the Class L State Tournament also went to PKs. Ian had faith in himself and his team to get the victory and the Indians won the game 1-0 after prevailing 5-4 in the penalty kick session.
“As a goalkeeper facing PKs, you just have to be confident in yourself. I had a youth coach tell me that in that scenario, you are expected to let one in, so you can’t let your head down when one goes in. I also had confidence in my teammates,” Ian says. “I think it’s important to not focus on fans in the stands or anything else going on. You have to trust the game and yourself because you’re in that spot for a reason. You aren’t constantly moving as keeper, so you have to be focused for when you are called upon.”
Head Coach Joe Maher says that Ian’s meteoric rise is the result of some strict repetition when it comes to honing his skills.
“Ian is an athlete of high character and good work habits. He continues to improve every practice and game. He is dedicated to his position and, above all, his teammates. Ian has a good future as our keeper at [Guilford High School],” says Maher. “He got a wealth of experience coming down the stretch at the end of the season. He was battle-tested for the SCC and state tournaments, playing against high-level competition in those games.”
Ian admits that he needs to work on some finer points going forward as a signal caller for Guilford’s defense, and he’s looking forward to the second half of his high school soccer career following his sensational sophomore ride.
“It’s like being a leader as the goalkeeper. It’s like being a quarterback and communicating with the defense. I think I have to get better at that,” says Ian, who thanks his parents Jim and Martha, along with all of his current and previous soccer coaches. “We didn’t have a great regular season. We were riddled with injuries. But we started clicking when everyone was healthy. We found our groove during SCCs and our captains kept us motivated by telling us we had a chance.”