The Taylor men’s soccer team is off to a strong start with a 4-1 record, including two dominating shutout victories.
Senior midfielder Levi Kelly attributes much of the team’s success to their new head coach Parker Aaron, highlighting Aaron's new ideas, philosophy and coaching style.
Kelly, who has contributed two assists and played in all five games this season, said that Aaron likes to play direct but emphasizes the importance of reading the defense. Recognizing and adapting to how the opposing team is playing is key in Taylor’s new system.
Aaron has also set intentional goals for the team, Kelly said.
“Our main goal that we’ve set as a team is that this is not going to be a rebuild year,” he said. “We want to hit the ground running. We want to chase a championship right away. So the goal would be to win conference, go to nationals, and just chase that top spot.”
The team ended their 2024 season with an overall record of 5-8-3. Kelly said the team’s strong start this year has set a ‘promising’ tone for the remainder of the season.
And although the team fell 2-1 against Madonna, Kelly said the game served as a test as to how conference play will look.
“When we hit conference, it’s going to be a challenge,” he said. “But conference is just as much a mental battle as it is physical. And I think the way that we’ve been playing, the chances that we’ve created, makes me really excited for conference season.”
Kelly also highlighted the team’s culture, saying that the environment was the main thing that drew him to Taylor.
Coming from a secular public school, Kelly grew a craving for a college team that was culture-oriented. And now, as a senior, it has become one of Kelly’s goals to keep those values alive.
He said that in order to do that, he wants to help make sure the team continues remembering their purpose.
“I just want to help establish that team culture and have that senior leadership of reminding the team who we ultimately play for, which is Christ and not ourselves,” said Kelly.
Freshman midfielder and forward Noel Calix said that Aaron has been an important part of the team’s chemistry and culture.
“He’s very supportive, and he’s always keeping in touch,” Calix said. “Any questions we have, he’s always open to us. So I’m just grateful for that.”
As a freshman, Calix has started in all four games, assisted one goal and scored four — two of which secured the Trojans’ victory.
Calix said that the team has already grown a lot since the beginning of their season. As a rookie, Calix has had to earn his spot and put in work to prove himself.
“I feel like at the end of the day, soccer is soccer,” said Calix. “But I would say as a freshman, you really have to dig deep and push through and compete with the other players.”
Calix described his role on the team as working to give 100 percent at all times and to help his team get better day by day.
“Main priority is just trying to win everything,” he said.
The Trojans will face off against Lourdes University on Sept. 10 on home turf in Turner Stadium, then will go on the road to battle Aquinas on Sept. 13.
