By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

At the start of the season, the Pembroke Academy boys soccer team had some adjustments to make.

The Spartans were getting used to the aggressive style of play their new head coach, Kevin Walsh, was trying to instill in them. A year earlier, the offense lacked firepower, as PA started out 1-6-1 and scored more than two goals only once.

John Stark's Travis Nevins (left) tries to secure the ball as Pembroke Academy's Aaron Frost applies pressure in the second half of PA's 7-2 win on Sept. 23. PA took a 6-1 first-half lead before Stark improved its defense in the second stanza. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

Hosting John Stark of Weare on Friday, Sept. 23, PA's offense exploded for a 7-2 win.

"This is the first game that we put everything together completely and played well the whole game," said senior co-captain J.C. Broek, who scored three goals against JS.

Broek's three-goal game was the first of his varsity career.

Fellow senior co-captain Tim Plante added to the squad's aggressive play, sporadic at times in the beginning of the year. The team, he said, had yet to play 80 minutes of solid soccer.

But against the Generals, Pembroke was on fire early, building an impressive 6-1 first-half lead. "(The win over Stark) shows (the PA players) the potential they have," said Walsh, who took over the Spartans. reigns after seven seasons in the Class L Manchester Central program. "When they focus and work hard, they can do a lot of entertaining things. If we're on, we're fun to watch."

Walsh also said the Spartans were much quicker to the ball on Sept. 23 than in prior contests. Friday's win avenged a 3-1 loss to the Generals in the first game of the year.

According to Walsh, the Spartans lacked pregame motivation in games at the start of the year. He said his team would just show up to play the games and pay little, if any, attention to winning. Now, Walsh said, the club is more focused.

Walsh tried to build an offensive attack that utilized all 10 players on the field. He also encouraged the players to rely more on their skill to play the game.

Devon Newbegin impressed Walsh from the attack position. Newbegin is a smaller player who uses quickness and elusiveness to be effective.

Walsh said he motivates the bigger players around him to raise their games.

Walsh also introduced a teamoriented approach on defense. He wanted to see the Spartans support each other more and not be afraid to double team opponents.

Bevan Timm and Pat McCormack showed maturity at center back and Nat Vigneau played at outside back with intensity.

With all the changes, the 2005 season is also an adjustment for Walsh. The head coach said he must get used to working in a smaller program and familiarize himself with Pembroke's Class I opponents.

The '05 Spartans include Pembroke's Colin