Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Gavin Benson
School: Waynesburg
Class: Freshman
Sport: Soccer
Benson’s week: One of the area’s top scoring threats in his first year on varsity, with a team-high 23 goals, he had hat tricks against McGuffey and Washington in 6-0 and 12-0 wins, helping the Raiders (9-1, 11-1) cement their first section title in two decades.
Quick study: Entering the season, Benson’s concerns for high school soccer, where he’d play with many kids who are two or three years older, revolved around the physicality aspect. The reality wasn’t as harsh, he said, but the difference between it and the middle school game was noticeable.
“The kids are a lot bigger and faster and play more quickly,” Benson said. “It’s a whole different game.”
He appears to have adjusted fine, starting all of the Raiders’ games as one of two forwards. He and Lucas Garber are the only two freshmen starters, but Benson played alongside several current sophomore teammates for Victory Soccer Club in Washington.
Benson said he doesn’t spend time thinking about what his strengths and weaknesses are, but when pressed described his awareness and ability to read the game as perhaps his most important asset. He hasn’t found it difficult to utilize the skill at this new, higher level of competition.
“It’s the same as any other soccer game,” Benson said. “You just have to do what you know, apply what you know to every single game and hopefully execute it.”
Scoring in bunches: Benson has three hat tricks and three two-goal performances. His single-game high so far is five against McGuffey in an 8-0 win a month ago. He doesn’t have a special formula fueling his multi-goal habit.
“I just have the mindset going into every game of working as hard as I can and helping my team out because this is a team game,” Benson said.
Solid footing: Though Benson is right footed, he has developed his left, which obviously helps his game. Developing balanced foot skills has been as simple for the striker as going to every practice, knowing that skill was something he wanted to improve.
“If you want to achieve something, you just do it,” he said.
Approaching training the same way he does matches has contributed to Benson’s success.
Open season: When asked to describe his shooting range, Benson said he doesn’t have one.
“Whenever I get open, I will shoot,” he said. “Honestly, wherever.”
The only determining factors in whether or not he shoots are what the team needs from him in a given moment and where the play ends up.
Top gun: While Benson also plays center back when needed, the 5-11, 150-pounder has been featured in an attacking role for both club and school teams.
“I like having pressure on me,” Benson said. “I don’t know. I like having that hunger every game.”
Staying focused: Though the Raiders secured their 3-AA championship a week ago, after the 12-0 victory over Washington, with three games remaining in the regular season, Benson said the team has no plans to rest its starters or change its approach in advance of the postseason.
“We need these next three wins,” he said. “We don’t want to lose again. It’s not fun.” Waynesburg’s one loss came at fourth-place Brownsville (2-0) Sept. 22.
“We can’t go into every game thinking we already hae it won,” Benson said. Waynesburg’s most recent playoff appearance in boys soccer was a 8-0 first round defeat to West Allegheny in 2012.
Compiled by Jasper Wilson