By Jack Peatross

Senior Andrew Petersen is known on the Reynolds soccer team as a hustler, team player, and leader. He has been playing for Reynolds for three years and he is trying to make the most out of his senior year.

   Petersen started his high school career at Summit, where he played center back and was captain. Then he took his leadership abilities and skills to Reynolds.

   This year, Petersen was voted in by his coaches and teammates as a captain. Andrew is thought of by his teammates, coaches, and friends as a great center back, player, leader, and person.

   “Andrew is able to connect with anyone and everyone on the team,” senior teammate Jackson Davis said. “Because Andrew can do this, it brings us together as a team and it helps us reach our goals as a team.”

   Since Peterson is a center back, he needs to be able to communicate to everyone at all times on the field. Andrew being a vocal player helps the team succeed and win soccer games. Peterson has to be calm, cool and collective at all times during the course of each match.

   “Maturity has made him such a great leader for us this year,” soccer coach Toni Sabio stated. “He is always looking to make the right decisions on and off the field and I think his teammates see that and want to follow him.”

   In order to be a center back you need to be smart and aggressive. Center backs usually do not record any stats, instead they do the dirty work that nobody else on the field does and it usually goes unnoticed. Petersen is smart, aggressive and is able to make the hustle plays.

   “I’m not that quick so being a center back I have to try to be smart and take angles to run people down and get the ball,” Petersen said. “I am also pretty good in the air with the ball so that helps me out a lot.”

   Peterson is willing to do anything for the guys on the team to help win a match.

   “When Andrew needs to be aggressive he is willing to put his body on the line to win a game, or is willing to do it for one of his teammates,” Davis said.

    The soccer season is reaching its close and Peterson, as well as the team, look to take a stab at winning the conference championship. With seven games left in the regular season, the team needs to win as many games as possible and Petersen’s leadership abilities will help.