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11/04/2021 12:00 AMAfter putting together an excellent regular season, senior vice captain Jake Burdick and the Valley Regional boys’ soccer team are looking to make their mark in the postseason this fall. Valley will be competing in the Shoreline Conference Tournament as the No. 2 seed and then has the Class S State Tournament after that.
Jake plays the center midfield position for the Warriors. The senior scored 18 goals with seven assists while helping Valley go 11-4-1 in the regular season.
“Our season is going good and, personally, I think this is the best season I’ve ever had,” says Jake. “I think I doubled what I had last year, and I worked pretty hard in the offseason.”
Jake’s offseason work was made more difficult after he tore his ACL while playing for his Premier team, Southeast Soccer Club, last February. The injury resulted in Jake undergoing surgery that March.
“Tearing your ACL is one of the worst injuries you can have as an athlete, and it was definitely hard mentally, because I didn’t know if I’d be able to play this season. But I worked hard over summer to get back, so it’s all paying off,” Jake says. “Having to come back from that physically and mentally was pretty tough, but my coaches and teammates were always checking in on me to see how I was doing, which was really great and made me feel good.”
Following the surgery, Jake began physical therapy, which he is still involved in now. Jake not only feels grateful to his coaches and teammates for helping him get through his injury, but also for the support of his parents, Mark Burdick and Marcia Crilly.
“My parents have played a huge role supporting me through my whole soccer career,” says Jake. “My teammates definitely make me better—a better person off the field and a better player on the field—and I wouldn’t be anywhere without my coaches.”
Mick Fearon, head coach of the Valley boys’ soccer team, has seen Jake contribute for the Warriors in a number of ways during the senior’s four years as a varsity player.
“Jake is a very talented young player, and the boys realize how good of a soccer player he is,” Coach Fearon says. “He’s a leader by example. The other kids look toward how he plays on the field, and the boys look to him to score goals.”
Jake has certainly lived up to everyone’s expectations this season as he leads the Warriors in scoring. Jake is hoping that his efforts pay off like they did last year, when he earned All-Shoreline Conference, All-State, and All-New England honors.
“Being named All-State and All-New England was pretty huge for me last year, so I’m hoping to go for that again this year,” says Jake. “From there, you’re nominated for All-American. I wasn’t All-American last year, but I’m having a pretty good season this year, so I’m hoping to maybe get some recognition for that.”
Jake’s favorite aspect of the regional recognition is being able to represent his hometown, something that he calls “an amazing feeling.” Jake, who lives in Essex, grew up playing soccer in town and has competed alongside many of his teammates since they started playing travel 10 years ago.
Knowing that he’s in the final weeks of playing for his hometown team, Jake and the Warriors are looking to make the season last as long as possible by going on some deep runs in the playoffs.
“The last game will be tough on all of us, because we’ve been together for 10 years. But hopefully, our last game will be a win in the conference finals, so we won’t be as sad,” Jake says. “We’re also hoping to do pretty well at states. Maybe we’ll win both.”
One of the best parts about Jake’s senior season is being able to lead his team as a vice captain. Jake remembers looking up to Sean Cole, who was a senior captain when he was a freshman. Cole also played center midfield, as Jake does now.
“I’ve been looking forward to leading the team since I was a freshman. A lot of players look up to me, and I try to set a good example on and off the field,” Jake says. “It feels really good to be in that position, and I think I’m doing a good job.”
As much as Jake loves soccer, he also just loves competition in general. Jake is planning to join the Valley boys’ basketball team and the boys’ lacrosse team in his senior year. While he has played basketball for fun throughout his life, this winter will mark Jake’s first season competing for a team.
In the spring, Jake will play lacrosse for the Warriors. Jake had decided to play lacrosse as a sophomore, but that season was canceled due to COVID, and then Jake’s ACL injury prevented him from playing in his junior year.
“It will be a lot of fun to play both,” says Jake. “I’ll enjoy playing with friends, but I’m also a very competitive person, so I will try my hardest in both sports, just like I do in soccer.”
Jake has not made any definite plans for college as of yet, but he is considering schools in South Carolina. Jake is also hoping to continue playing soccer in college.
“I’d love to play Division I,” Jake says. “I know after this season I probably won’t get to play with my teammates again, so I know I’m going to miss playing with them competitively after this season is over.”