As if starting off the season 0-6 was bad enough, the loss of the Pinewood varsity soccer team’s head coach seemed to put the final nail in the coffin for their season. Finishing the preseason and going into winter break, all hope was lost for the season, and it seemed as if the soccer team would stay in mediocrity forever. However, like a superhero arising from the wreckage of a destroyed city, Gregory Brazil stepped into the limelight and assumed the role of head coach for the soccer team.
Having coached teams in the Premier League, leading AFC Richmond to a second-place finish in the Premier League, Brazil was uniquely suited to take over the Pinewood team.
“I feel like my experiences from Richmond have prepared me for an opportunity like this,” Brazil said. “I knew I could lead this team to a top spot in our league and into the postseason.”
Immediately after he was appointed head coach, the Pinewood soccer team entered their first league game against Sacred Heart Prep, who finished third in the league last year. However, in a completely unexpected turn of events, Pinewood came out on top due to Brazil’s blend of football and soccer tactics, comfortably beating them 5-0. With these new tactics, such as “The Brazil Special,” where players line up in an American football style and rush forward onto the pitch, Pinewood scored all five goals in the first five minutes of the game, putting in their subs to see the game off.
“This game was probably the most important game of the season, with it being our first game in league with a new coach,” senior captain Paul Sapilweski said. “It was nice that we won that game by that much to build momentum for the coming games.”
Pinewood then went on to finish league play with a 12-2 record, including two statement wins against Crystal Springs and Menlo. This barely edged the team into the CCS Division I playoffs, the first ever playoff appearance from the soccer team. Despite this, Pinewood was the lowest seed, and they entered the bracket as underdogs, forcing them to battle against nationally-ranked teams like Bellarmine and Everett Alvarez.
Even though a feat like this seemed impossible, Brazil’s masterful tactics honed through years of coaching, paired with his star-studded roster, led to the team comfortably beating Bellarmine 2-1 in their first game, dispatching Westmont 2-0, and finally playing the game of their lives against Everett Alvarez, beating them 4-2 in one of the best games they ever played, with pundits comparing Brazil to Pep Guardiola.
When reflecting on the past season, Brazil recognized the players and the school as key parts in their run to becoming CCS champions. As champions, Brazil wants to reverse the reputation of the team.
“Be curious, not judgmental,” Brazil said.
