GREENE TURTLE OC LAX - DICK'S SPORTING GOODS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS TEAM PREVIEW
(September 17, 2008)
Location: Eastern Shore, Md.
Head Coach: Steve Pappas
Established: 2005
Colors: Forest green & white
Qualified: Brine Summer Sizzle
by Josh Gross
Most club teams benefit from the tutelage of a few assistant coaches, but only one head coach. Not the case for Greene Turtle OC.
The first, and true head coach is Steve Pappas, who will lead the team to Florida in January to compete for the club national championship.
“Pappas has been the number one reason for my success,” says OC senior goalie Jake Graves (committed to Towson).
The other, while not a head coach for the team itself, is the top Terrapin, University of Maryland head coach Dave Cottle.
“Dave’s a great guy,” continues Graves. “He came and did a couple clinics with us.”
Pappas and Cottle (former college roommates and coaches at Salisbury), as well as assistant coaches Dion Wright, Greg Butler and Jeff “Moose” Mohr, have instilled a defense-first mindset in Greene Turtle OC.
“We’re extremely aggressive on defense,” says Pappas. “We do double a lot.”
That mentality, along with putting team ahead of individual, has worked, as the Greene Turtle’s 29-5-1 summer record clearly shows.
“There’s a lot of talent, but there isn’t one kid we rely on,” continues Pappas. “That was taught to us by Dave himself.”
Cottle’s principles have led to overwhelming excitement among the team’s players, as Greene Turtle’s performance at the Sizzle earned OC a bid to the national championship.
“It’s really exciting to get [a bid],” says defenseman Jeff Mohr (committed to Manhattan College).
A nod of approval regarding the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions from one former roommate to another meant it was time to make plans for January.
“Dave recommended this one,” says Pappas. “That was a big sell for us.”
Now, the only question is whether the former Sea Gull can lead his team to the title and bring home another national championship to Salisbury, Maryland.
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