Posey pacing
ADAMS TWP — Spencer Posey tries to avoid the spotlight, but his exploits on the soccer pitch keep getting in the way.
A junior center midfielder on the Mars boys soccer team, Posey has scored 21 of the 46 goals tallied this season by the playoff-bound Planets.
“I don't think about how many goals I'm scoring,” Posey said. “I just play.
“I'd rather have my teammates score, but scoring chances keep coming up for me.”
And Posey is making the most of them.
As a sophomore last season, Posey was asked to be a defensive-minded midfielder and he started every game for a team that advanced to the WPIAL Class AA title game.
“Last year, he was more of a possession player,” said Planets' coach Chris Knauff. “I'd still say that possession is his best attribute on the field.”
With the graduation of Alex Perri (nine goals, eight assists in 2010) last spring, the Planets needed someone to step into an attacking center midfield spot.
Knauff believed Posey's ability to possess the ball would benefit the team.
“He doesn't lose the ball often and he's able to get out of tight spots,” Knauff said. “He makes good runs forward, finds the penetrating pass and then follows it up to get the ball back.
“But I didn't think he would score nearly as much as he has this year,” added Knauff.
“I could have played an attacking center-mid last year, but Alex was there,” said Posey. “The spot opened up this season and I've taken advantage of it.”
It doesn't hurt that Posey is a year older, either.
“I did a lot of leg training this year and I'm stronger, more fit,” he said. “Just maturing, it's helped my game out a lot.”
Posey has also gained valuable experience playing for Northern Steel and former Butler High boys coach Malcolm Cook.
“We play in a lot of tournaments up and down the east coast,” said Posey. “It's helped me a great deal.”
The Planets (13-3-1, 11-1-1) will close the regular season tonight against rival Knoch before entering the WPIAL playoffs, most likely as the second-place team out of the section behind Hampton.
The Talbots are the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion. Their only loss this season was a 2-1 defeat to the Planets Sept. 8 at the Mars Athletic Complex.
“We're a well-balanced team,” Posey said, “but we're strongest at goalkeeper (Garrett Gabriel) and defense. Keeping the ball out of our net is a big reason for our success.
“We can make it as far as any Mars team has,” added Posey. “We just have to put our minds to it.”
