By Laura Clark

Published: April 8, 2008

Luke Longanecker is a senior midfielder for the varsity boys’ soccer team. Longanecker scored the Govs’ second goal in a 2-2 draw with Heritage on April 7.

On changing positions:
I’ve been playing striker but I’m being switched back to midfield, like last year. I’m not as much a part of the game when I’m up top. I can be used better in the midfield. I’ll be more in the game defense and offense.

On the soccer skill he’s perfected:
I would say my passing, distributing from the midfield. Just like passing it to someone, anticipating the next play and sending the ball in front of them, telling them to make a run. Setting up plays, not just putting it to someone.

And one he’s working on:
Probably better foot skills. Dribbling and more technical moves. I just need to put some more tricks in the handbag, I guess.

On playing soccer year-round:
I play in a summer league in Lynchburg. I played (Nelson) Express in the fall. You’re always in the game and you can always improve, there’s not that long break where you forget your skills. You have a little down time in the winter, but its not like you can get too out of shape.

On the game of soccer:
It’s a beautiful game, I agree with that, but it’s a great game too, just the way you get coached before hand and for 45 minutes, it’s all the players. Maybe a yell from the sideline but it’s pretty much you take what you’ve learned and put it on the field, and you do what you know.
It’s not like football – play, stop, huddle. It’s just continuous. You’re always running, and there’s always something you’re supposed to be doing. There’s no down time.

On taking penalty kicks:
Usually, I just practice one spot. You probably won’t get more than one pk in a game. I kick the same pk every time. It’s all the side of the foot, on the heel. You don’t want to go on the laces because there’s too much a chance of it going over. It’s not as much power. It’s more placement.

On his goal for the season:
It’s a whole new team. I’m playing with a lot of new players. I just hope we come together as a team and make a run, just like we did last year. We can. We actually have the capability to do it, we have the skill to do it, we just have players right now that need to get healthy and we need to come together and play good soccer.

On what pumps him up before games:
Probably my teammates, specifically Jack Farley and Koda Kerl. We have this tradition of getting in a little circle and doing a little pump-up tribal dance thing.

On his plans after graduation:
I will attend college, either Virginia Tech or JMU. Definitley not varsity soccer at either school. One, because I probably won’t be good enough, and two, it’s really hard core and time-consuming. But I’m thinking about trying out for club soccer, which is a step below varsity. I’m definitely going to be playing some soccer.