For the past couple years, the Clinton Dark Horse soccer team has been breaking school records, and jhas been very successful in the regular season and state playoffs. Last year, the Horses went to the second round of the playoffs, losing to Swansboro 1-0. This year, the Dark Horse soccer team hopes to get even farther.

“We have had a promising summer,” said head coach Brad Spell during a recent interview. “The team had a great camp a few weeks back; we have had 18 practices in 10 days,” he noted.

The Clinton coach also pointed out that he has had some injuries in practice, but if his team can stay healthy, then he expects the Horses to have a very successful season.

“I think we will have a very good season; we have strong leaders and hard workers,” stressed senior soccer player Will Carter, declaring that he is going to make the best out of his senior year by leading the team.

“I am going to motivate my teammates and keep everybody’s head up; I want to win a championship.”

Senior captain Tyler Strickland stated that the key to “breaking the ice” and winning Clinton’s first state championship in soccer is to work extremely hard in practice and give it all they have.

Leading the Dark Horses as captains on the soccer field this yea will be six seniors: Tyler Strickland, Tevin Bryant, Will Carter, Tyler James, Zach Valenti, and Blake Ellis.

“I am going to be vocal and set a good example for the younger guys,” declared Strickland. Senior Tevin Bryant also hopes to lead the team to succeed this season, and said: “As a captain I am going to step up more and try to be there for the team; I am going to show not only great leadership on the field but also in the classroom.”

Senior Blake Ellis noted that the key to this season is playing as a team. “There is no individual on this team; we are all going to give an effort. There is no doubt in my mind that if we stay as a team, we will go far in the playoffs and win the state championship.”

Last year the Dark Horses went 18-6-1 on the season finishing third in the East Central Conference.

Ellis says that he hopes to improve this year by making sure everybody is doing what they are supposed to be doing and play as a team. “Being a captain, I have to make sure the team is on top of things, like their grades and making sure they stay out of trouble.”

Another senior player, Tyler James stated, “This year we are going to beat Swansboro; we are going to work harder in practice and keep a good attitude; we are also going to listen and follow the coach’s direction.”

Dark Horse senior Zach Valenti declared, “We have to be loud and have good communication; as senior captains we have to take command, we can’t slip up.” Valenti also hopes to win conference by working hard and communicating together, “We have to give everything we got.”

The Clinton Dark Horses will start their 2010 regular season on Aug. 18 against the Whiteville Wolfpack.