Following Edwardsburg’s 6-2 win over Vicksburg in Wolverine Conference Boys Soccer action Sept. 16, junior captain Jacob Brown was quick to point out the obstacles the team needed to overcome to get the victory.

“We came out flat. Our warm-up was flat too so, I knew it was going to be a rough start,” Brown said. “In the second half we were able to pick it up, get the ball out wide and put pressure on them and that was when we started scoring, playing like a team, and communicating.”

With a tough Wolverine Conference schedule ahead including the likes of Paw Paw and Plainwell, Brown pointed out that they cannot start games like they did against Vicksburg.

“When we play those teams it is important that we do not come out flat,” Brown said. “This game shows us what we need to work on. We were able to pass the ball around a little bit and see what works best for us.  Some guys were able to get in and see different positions. We have a tough opponent in Niles Saturday (Sept. 19) so this game showed us what we need to work on and help prepare us for the rest of the schedule.”

As an underclassmen captain, Edwardsburg coach Sean Jesse loves Brown’s on the field intelligence.

“He definitely has a lot of knowledge of the game,” Jesse said. “He plays an elite level of club, his biggest attribute to our team is he is a workhorse. He can get up and down the field.  He also leads by example because of his knowledge of the game. The best part about him is that he has so much room for improvement.  Once he starts to build on what he knows, he will be a phenomenal player.”

Brown has been playing soccer since he was three years old. He started his career in the Edwardsburg Youth Soccer Association (EYSA), then went to Junior Irish Soccer Club in South Bend, and now has found a home playing for the No. 2-ranked Indiana Invaders Midwest Regional League team.

Because Brown has been playing at what is considered one of the elite levels of club soccer for some times, has a future in soccer after high school.

“I have been sending out emails to Division 1 college coaches and I have received emails from colleges in Illinois and New York,” Brown said. “I also received an invite to play in the United Worlds Tournament in Austria over next summer so I am looking forward to that. My goal is to play in college, it is a big aspiration of mine.”Cassopolis soccer players Takuma Hamano, an exchange student from Japan (left) and Lane Francis try out the new Soccergolf course at Diamond Lake Golf Course. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)