The Man in the Middle

By BEN TRITTIPOE For the News & Messenger
Published: March 20, 2008

Coaching a veteran team—one made up of a core of players who have been together for a long time—can be a double-edged sword, according to Woodbridge boys soccer head coach Don Allen.

"When you have a team like that, the biggest concern as a coach is will they play to the team, or will they play to their comfort zone?" Allen said. "In a pressure situation, who will they go to? Will they look to pass to the open player, or will they try to force a tougher pass to a player they're more familiar with?"

Luckily for Allen, he has senior Brian Lybert to rely on. Lybert is Woodbridge's central midfielder, the team's playmaker, and Allen has the utmost confidence that Lybert will make the right decision when the game is on the line.

An all-Cardinal District and second-team all-Northwest Region selection last year, Lybert said it has been easy to step into a leadership role for the Vikings.

"As a senior, my role is to lead and be sure the team stays together," he said. "We're an older team [at least nine of the 11 starters are seniors], and on top of that, they're my core group of friends. It's easier when you know where everyone will be on the field."

For much of this decade, Lybert has played with fellow Viking seniors Josh Christian, Gabe Mesquita, Colin Smith, Andy Sofranac and Kyle Symczak on the PWSI Courage 89 Red club team.

They have found a comfort level among themselves, but as Allen points out, they also make sure they're on the same page as the rest of the team.

"This group hasn't fallen into the trap of playing to each other," Allen said. "We added a talented freshman in Andrew Whitlock this season, and on the field, it looks as if he has played with this group his whole life."

Allen describes Lybert as quiet off the field, but not on the pitch.

A captain this season, Lybert believes the work ethic that led to him contributing seven goals and nine assists in 2007 rubs off on his teammates.

"If you work hard as a leader, the others will follow," Lybert said. "If I put in the work, the others will put in the work. Sometimes, you have to get on them a little, but you do what you need to do."

Lybert, who will play at NCAA Division III institution Christopher Newport next fall, believes this Woodbridge team has the ability to make a deep run into the postseason.

"Our first goal is to win the district title, but this team is so together, so committed, that I think we can go far," he said. "We lost in the region first round last year, so I want to take us deeper into the postseason, hopefully to states. That would be a nice way to finish."

Maybe that will be possible, with a little help from his friends.

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