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Franklin soccer leaning on dynamic scorers while defense comes around





 

 

FRANKLIN — There was plenty of frustration on the bench. Players in each others’ ears, some mild barking. That was OK with Mike Burgoyne

The Franklin coach likes when his players work problems out themselves, and that was necessary after Independence had the Admirals down 1-0 at halftime Tuesday.

One guy was fairly quiet, per usual.

Franklin senior Bradley Whelan is a lead-by-example type. He walked around and softly exchanged words with a couple teammates about how they would turn it around the second half.

And things sure did change.

Whelan helped flip the script by scoring two goals as Franklin roared back from a 2-0 deficit early in the second half for a 4-2 victory.

“With Bradley, I could tell (he was engaged) when he was just walking around. He’s talking to Benji (Wright), they’re going over stuff, but it’s not rah-rah type stuff. That’s not him,” Burgoyne said. “But he’s lightning quick, great vision. When he can turn and face up and take players on, he’s just dynamic.”

Without much of a season last year and no preseason scrimmages this year, nearly all spring sports teams are working on the fly to build chemistry and identify their best forms of attack.

Whelan, who has committed to Alabama-Huntsville, is one of several offensive weapons Franklin’s leaning on while it figures out its defense. The Admirals have four freshmen goalkeepers, something Burgoyne hasn’t seen much of, if ever, in nine years as head coach.

Two-goal deficits aren’t ideal, but Franklin’s offense can compensate for it. Landon Robbins and Benji Wright added other goals in Franklin’s comeback against Independence.

“When you throw in Shun (Wakatsuki), Landon, Benji and Bradley, it’s a fun little combination to have. Because if they key in on Bradley, then it’s gonna create something for Benji or Landon or someone else,” Burgoyne said. “That’s the nice thing about this group iis there’s more than one option going forward, we just have to solidify some of the back and midfield.”

People around the program pegged last year’s Franklin team as one of the school’s best in some time. But thirteen seniors and eight starters moved on without playing a postseason that was canceled due to COVID-19.

Franklin’s trying to reach the state tournament after a two-year absence, not counting last season’s playoffs that were not held. The Admirals won back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014.

“We can get something out of this season for sure,” Whelan said. “A lot of our players know each other from travel. So we have a little chemistry. But we’re just working hard, encouraging each other and trying to make sure we give 100% in everything. That’s what matters.”

Whelan was as excited as anyone for the team that would have been on the field a year ago. But he likes this one a lot too.

“I feel like we have a lot of potential,” Whelan said. “I was a little suspect at first (with no preseason games), but moving on to the season, we’re playing a lot better than I thought we would.”

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