Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Very rarely does a sports team come together and dominate right from the start. It often takes time and effort for a team to get in sync with each other. The boys’ soccer team has come together like never before and has taken control of Section 1 A. Freedom was undefeated in their first turn in the section, including shutouts against preseason favorites Quaker Valley and Beaver County Christian. After eleven games, the only dents in the bulldog’s armor this season is a non-section loss to AAA power West Allegheny and a tie against Carlynton. With the undefeated record in section play, Freedom has a chance to claim their first section title in soccer in fourteen long years. Midfielder Luke Mesing had this to say on the bulldog’s section title chances: “We are ready to take the section. We’ve been working long and hard to reach this goal and now that it’s possible the team’s working even harder.” A big reason that Freedom is in the position it’s in is because of the strength of the team as whole. Both the offense and defense are superb. Luke Mesing, Eric Gabrich, and Seth Shidemantle are the leading scorers on offense. Mesing leads with nine goals through eleven games; Gabrich and Shidemantle have each added six. The defense is just as good, if not better than the bulldog’s potent offense. Because of sweeper Tanner Mesing and freshman goalie Anthony Kosis, it is hard to score on Freedom. Kosis has put up a handful of shutouts already this season and Mesing’s and the other defenders’ ball hawking abilities make it hard for teams to get shots off. Tanner Mesing on the defense: “We know that the point of soccer is to score more goals than the other team. If we put up a zero and only score one we still win, so we’re trying to have shutouts every game.” The Bulldogs clinched a playoff birth on October 6th with their one to nothing victory over BCCS. All that is left for the team, is their ultimate goal of winning a section title. If Freedom continues to fight and work hard towards its goal, anything is possible. The bulldog’s have a sense of confidence and swagger only seen in championship teams. This could be the year that boys’ soccer puts another number up on the banner.