Marked by the return of eight starters from last season’s class-AAAAA state tournament quarterfinal team, expectations are understandably high for Centennial boys soccer this season. Head coach Phil Thomas takes the lofty prognostications in stride. He believes his seventh Knights team has the potential to accomplish big things, as it builds off the record-setting postseason success of the 2008 squad.

“The team’s goal right now is to make a run for the region championship, first and foremost. I think that’s a very realistic goal,” said Thomas, who coached Centennial to a No. 7 final state ranking in 2008. “If we can accomplish that, we’ll have our eyes set towards the state championship.”

Thomas hopes the return of three key seniors will allow Centennial’s 2009 aspirations to become reality. In striker Zane El-Shami, center attacking midfielder Junior Sandoval, and centerback Andrew Lord, the heart of the field is in good hands for the Knights. All three are captains, and El-Shami has already signed a letter-of-intent to play his college ball at Coastal Carolina next year.

“You’re talking about three guys that have basically played on varsity since they’ve played soccer here at Centennial,” Thomas said of his veteran trio. “Good teams have players in the middle, and that’s where we have those guys.”

Thomas said some surprising contributors have also emerged in the season’s early stages for the Knights, who carried a 4-2 record and No. 9 state ranking into last night’s game at Pope. The play of freshmen Ryan Spence and Connor Davis has pleased Thomas, who has inserted both players into the starting backfield. The youngsters played large roles during a four-game winning streak that saw Centennial claim shut out wins over Norcross, North Cobb, Northview, and Campbell.

“The last [few] games there has been a commitment to defending and doing what’s right,” said Thomas.

“We’re not a very big team, but we’re very skilled. We’re fast. And when we choose to, we play at a very quick pace. Really, it’s just overall that we’ve got good team chemistry, and we build off one another and work together well.”