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Keepers corner

The mentality behind the last line of defense
Coppell junior goalkeeper Andrew Telling punts against Lake Highlands on Jan. 16 at Buddy Echols Field. Telling works to keep a positive mindset and clear head going into every match.
Coppell junior goalkeeper Andrew Telling punts against Lake Highlands on Jan. 16 at Buddy Echols Field. Telling works to keep a positive mindset and clear head going into every match.
Naila Ali
As soccer season enters the second round of district senior goalkeepers Chase Anderson, Zaheer Ali, and junior goalkeeper Andrew Telling lead their team to success.

Every team has a last line of defense, but one position truly operates in a high-pressure environment of isolation: the goalkeeper. As soccer season enters the second round of district senior goalkeepers Chase Anderson, Zaheerabbas Ali, and junior goalkeeper Andrew Telling lead their team to success. 



As soccer season enters the second round of district senior goalkeepers Chase Anderson, Zaheer Ali, and junior goalkeeper Andrew Telling lead their team to success. (Naila Ali)
Coppell senior goalkeeper Chase Anderson makes a save against Little Elm on Jan. 30 at Buddy Echols Field. Anderson works to hold his team accountable and lead the team to success.
Senior goalkeeper Chase Anderson

“Being a goalkeeper means being confident and reliable because you can be really good, but if you’re not consistent and reliable and your coach doesn’t trust you, then you’re just good for nothing.”

“It’s one of the only positions where athleticism is the main focus. All the positions are athletic, but I think athleticism as a goalkeeper is big. It’s so easy to see if a keeper’s athletic or not, I gravitated towards it, especially because I played football when I was younger.”

Coppell senior goalkeeper Chase Anderson makes a save against Little Elm on Jan. 30 at Buddy Echols Field. Anderson works to hold his team accountable and lead the team to success. (Naila Ali)
Coppell senior goalkeeper Zaheer Ali makes a save against Lake Highlands on Jan. 16 at Buddy Echols Field. Ali works to stay confident and lead his team to success.
Senior goalkeeper Zaheerabbas Ali

“Everyone knows it takes the trust of your teammates and coaches being the last line of defense. But no one talks about the trust you have to have in yourself to command a team to success.”

“I’m able to go through diversity and push through hardships a lot better than I expected myself to.”

Coppell senior goalkeeper Zaheer Ali makes a save against Lake Highlands on Jan. 16 at Buddy Echols Field. Ali works to stay confident and lead his team to success. (Naila Ali)
Coppell junior goalkeeper Andrew Telling distributes against Lake Highlands on Jan. 16 at Buddy Echols Field. Telling works to keep a positive mindset and clear head going into every match. (Naila Ali)
Junior goalkeeper Andrew Telling

“There is a lot that goes into soccer and it’s beyond the score and the skill. Its mindset, communication and willingness to change in high pressure situations.”

“I want to make sure everyone on my team is in the right mindset, that they are ready for the game and keeping their heads up even if the game is close so we can pull through.”

 

 

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