For a soccer team ranked No. 1 in the nation, this season couldn't have startedworse for Collins Hill.
Minutes before the opener, the Eagles lost their back-up goalkeeper in a freak injury during warm-ups. During the game, the No. 1 goalie broke his leg, while a top defender collapsed and was later diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart abnormality.
"It was any coach's worst nightmare," Collins Hill coach Drew Prentice said. "It got to point where it was like, ‘OK, what's going to happen next?' "
Fortunately, ambulances haven't been dispatched to any games since and all injured players are expected to make full recoveries. The Gwinnett County powerhouse is off to an 8-0 start, while shuffling around personnel to fend off several upset bids.
The Eagles have also ascended to the No. 1 spot in two national polls for high school soccer: ESPN The Rise and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
"More than anything, the ranking is going to be a big test for the team to see if we stay focused," Prentice said. "At this point, it seems like more of a distraction than anything for us. But it's fun. The guys deserve it."
Collins Hill has a talent-loaded roster of prospects that would make some colleges jealous. Led by forward Malcolm Miller (signed with Michigan), defender Nick Lane (Georgia Southern), forward Peter Kurowski (UNC Greensboro) and defender Brady O'Brien (Mercer), the nucleus of seniors has led the Eagles to two straight appearances in the Class AAAAA championship, winning it all last year.
"The [national ranking] is well deserved," said North Gwinnett coach Erik Crawford, whose team dropped a 2-1 decision to Collins Hill Friday. "They have a good talent pool and they cut guys that would probably make most other high school teams. They have some good leadership and I think it has finally come together over the last couple of years."
Collins Hill had high expectations for this season, but nothing prepared the team for what happened in the opener against Dacula on Feb. 23. Reserve goalie Jackson Taylor chipped a bone in his left foot during pre-game drills and has been sidelined for a month.
About 15 minutes into first half, junior defender Josh Fancher suddenly dropped to one knee after the ball went out of bounds.
"I thought maybe he had turned an ankle," recalled Prentice. "He was walking off the field fine and then started stumbling and zig-zagging as he got to me. As it turned out, he couldn't see. He had blacked out."
Fancher was rushed to a hospital, where his heartbeat registered 220 times per minute, more than twice the normal level for an active teenager. A cardiologist examination revealed WPW, a condition caused by an extra electrical pathway in the heart.
"I feel very blessed because it was found now, rather than much later in life, when my body might not have handled it as well," Fancher said.
Fancher has since continued playing while taking heart medications and will undergo a procedure to correct the abnormality on Monday. He is expected to be out for a week.
But the Dacula game calamity wasn't over. In the second half, goalie Bill Langford switched directions to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his right leg, breaking it. He is likely out for the season.
With his top two goalies out of service, Prentice the next day convinced valedictorian candidate Greg Kyle to return to the team. He had played the previous three years, but decided not to participate as a senior. With Kyle in net, Collins Hill has remained undefeated and more nationally recognized.
"Everyone around school is excited about the No. 1 ranking," senior captain Jonathan Nelson said. "People who even aren't really into soccer have become interested. We want to keep winning and keep them interested."
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