Providence soccer teaches more than winning matches

JOHNSON CITY — Every soccer team wants to have success on the pitch, but being a spiritual believer in God is a much larger message at Providence Academy. "I think honestly it is the greatest thing you can have, right,"?, Providence senior Cage Merkel said. "Definitely being surrounded by believers, people who are part of your religion definitely helps us grow as individuals and as a team and definitely as a community." It doesn't hurt on the pitch as well. Providence has posted an 11-2 mark this season, including a 2-2-0 mark in Division II-A, and hopes to begin senior Jacoby Puhr's stated goal during a home match on Friday with King's Academy. "My expectations are for us to go undefeated for the rest of the regular season," Puhr said. "I think that is a realistic goal and I expect us to be in the top four or top eight in the state and make the state this year." While Providence hasn't reached that goal in its short time in TSSAA, head coach Mike Cash has even higher aspirations, professing the benefits of Joshua 1:9 — which encourages strength and courage, while emphasizing the presence of God in helping to overcome fear or discouragement. Cash's message to his team is to ask for that guidance when needed. "You need to be asking the Lord for help and strength for these battles in the games because when you graduate one day or even now in life there is going to be those tests and temptations," said Cash, a former goalkeeper at Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga, who followed Martin Sells as head coach more than a decade ago. "You are going to fail some of them, but we want to learn to conquer those things." Providence has also bought into Cash's focus on playing team soccer, moving the ball around and getting shots for teammates whether than being focused on individual goals. "I think as we have progressed we have gotten better with a more team-style play,' Merkel said. "I feel before it used to be individual, now we are actually playing as a team toward the end of the season and it is a lot better." It has worked so far, with the Knights continuing its terrific season by capturing the Blue Ridge Classic title last week, finishing off three wins with a 2-0 win in the championship game on Saturday against Unicoi County. "The Lord has been good to us this year. A lot of good things have happened this year and in the years past too," Cash said. "I think we are doing better since we have some more discipline and being a team player and not just thinking about yourself and sharing the ball." Merkel and Puhr have been at Providence since kindergarten and have learned to complement each other on the pitch. Merkel leads the Knights with 16 goals, while Puhr is tied for second on the team with seven assists. Other statistical leaders include Marcus Poff (15 goals, eight assists), Luke Severson (seven assists), Carter Larson (six goals) and goalkeeper Austin Beckner (nine shutouts). "I like to score, I scored the other day, but at the end of the day it is about winning and I know that Cage is a better scorer than me," said Puhr, who also played football for Providence. "I might have a lot of other strengths that he might not be as strong at so I know that our playing styles complement each other pretty well. We do better whenever I am trying to facilitate for somebody to score." Another non-senior contributing for Providence is junior Luke Gilmer, who plays football, basketball and soccer for the Knights, with soccer sticking out from the three. "I like the team, I like the coach. I just like the sport in general, the outside nature of it," said Gilmer, who prefers Providence to public schools he has attended in the past. "The community, everybody here knows each other. I can have a conversation with everybody, I know everybody by name, I think it is cool... "I would say it is the work ethic. We hold ourselves to a different standard from my experience in public school." While Merkel set a personal goal prior to the season, he is focused more on spiritual growth and team improvement as the postseason approaches in a few weeks. "Personally, me and my dad set a goal before the season ends to get 25 goals," he said. "The only issue with that is I don't want to play selfish just because we are a team. I am at 16 right now, but that is quite unrealistic, but that is definitely a goal." Puhr, who has drawn praise from Cash for sacrificing his own statistics for the team, certainly has high praise for his years at Provicence. "I have loved and enjoyed my time here," he said. "Academically it has helped build a really strong foundation, and spiritually has probably been the biggest part. I feel here at Providence what we have are teachers, at least in my experience, that have really personalized my experience here." That is what Cash has sought to do as an educator wherever he has been. "I love soccer and I love sports, but also to help young men," he said. "I know I needed help for people like me. These guys need help spiritually and physically with their live as they grow up." Both Merkel and Puhr are eagerly anticipating the World Cup, which will be held in America this summer. Merkel enjoys watching the playing style of Brazil, while Puhr is hopeful that the U.S. team can at least advance to the quarterfinals on home soil. As for now though, Puhr is focused on making his senior year a memorable one for the Knights. "Make the state, that is the biggest goal," he said. "If it is going to happen it is going to be this year."