Worcester State University's men's soccer team is young. Of the 28 rostered players, over half of them are underclassmen. The WSU men's soccer team is also currently undefeated in conference play and putting together a great season. Standing out from the young crop is fifth-year and two-time captain Alexander Papageorgiou, who has assumed his leadership role in stride; as a role model for his teammates off the field, while still keeping pace on the field netting two goals thus far this fall.
As with many student-athletes these days, excess eligibility has made it possible for Papageorgiou to return to the Lancers for one final season. And as part of the "four-plus-one" business program, it was a no-brainer for the Tewksbury native to return after last year because "coming from a three-win season, I knew that wasn't truly who we were."
That return would prove interesting as Papageorgiou remembers that the "first day of preseason, I remember looking around and I just felt old. All these freshmen. Super quick moving. Fancy footwork. And I just felt old and slow." He would soon catch up to his greener teammates, and by the start of the season, knew that he needed to provide a much-needed veteran presence. With the season being scrapped in 2020 and multiple cancellations occurring in a less-than-traditional 2021 campaign, Papageorgiou knew "a bunch of our team was left with no experience. We were young and then they missed their first year."
Perhaps Papageorgiou's return was just what the young team needed, as they're putting together quite the season with just five matches left in the regular season. His two goals on the season provide the tangible contributions, but his veteran presence combined with what he considers to be an outstanding coaching staff, is putting in the work behind the scenes. Papageorgiou shouts out his coaches in their first full season with the Lancers as being huge difference makers. "They really are putting in a lot of time and effort into the team. A ton of film sessions and analyzing other teams to a tee."
It looks as though Papageorgiou's decision to return for a fifth season is paying off. He and his teammates will be back out on the pitch this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Salem when they pay MASCAC rival Salem State University a visit.
by Chris Wright