Tuesday, March 15, 2016 3:12 pm

DAVID HUNTER
The Cannon Courier

The CCHS boys' soccer team roars back on the pitch this season under new management with the season kicking off on March 22 at Watertown.

Long time Lions assistant in several sports, Jeran Tenpenny, takes over the program as they try to compete in a tough district this season. The assistant coach will be long-time soccer coach Guillermo Novoa.

"We got a lot of guys coming out and working hard for us," Tenpenny said. "We have a lot of veteran players coming back and they have put in some big minutes for us. We got some new players to build the future on."

CCHS will be led by seven returning players, who each brings a wealth of experience back as the overall team has a mix of youth and experience this season. Those returnees include seniors Kyle and Kody Margarito and Reece Wisdom along with juniors Jake and Josh Walkup, Qwentin McMackins and Jon Micah Davis.

"Our expectations is for our players to get better each time they step on the field," Tenpenny said. "We want to help build a program here and gain some stability on the field. We want to represent our school and community well every time we step out of the field."

As for the competition, the district the Lions play in is one of the toughest in the state as they will face powerhouses Goodpasture, Merrol Hyde and Murfreesboro Central Magnet. However, CCHS knows it will have to be at their best each time it steps out on the pitch in order to compete in the district this season.

"We got to do the little things well, and just play our game well," Tenpenny said. Coach Novoa tells the players, "Before we learn how to win, we got to learn how not to lose."

The Lions will play a defensive style of soccer to go along with a fast-paced controlled offense hoping to use the speed which they have on both sides of the pitch.

"That will give us the best opportunity to win games is to approach with a defensive-minded strategy," Tenpenny said. "If we can stop the other team from scoring, we got players that can score. It does not matter if we score 10 goals, if we let the other team score 11."

The Lions season kicks off March 22 at Watertown with first kick at 7 p.m.

2016 Schedule

Tuesday (March 22) at Watertown 6 p.m.

Thursday (March 24) at Sequatchie Co. 6 p.m.

Friday (March 25) at Goodpasture 5 p.m.

Tuesday (March 29) vs Macon Co. 5 p.m.

Tuesday (April 5) at Merrol Hyde 7 p.m.

Thursday (April 7) vs Bledsoe Co. 6 p.m.

Friday (April 8) vs Goodpasture 6 p.m.

Monday (April 11) at Warren Co. 6 p.m.

Thursday (April 14) vs. Smith Co. 5 p.m.

Tuesday (April 19) at Jackson Co. 6 p.m.

Tuesday (April 26) at Murfreesboro Central Magnet 5 p.m.

Thursday (May 5) vs Community (Senior Night) 6 p.m.

Reach David Hunter at
dhunter@cannoncourier.com