Coming into the 2006 season, Captain Alex Clifford ‘07 had high aspirations and play-off hopes in mind. He came off of a summer full of hard work and training as he prepared to head the Boys Soccer team. During the season Clifford was an influential presence both on and off the field, and he guided a team with only four seniors to a great season. Teammate Joey Mensah ’08 said, “Cliff is a great leader on and off the field, and his constructive criticism motivates us to continually strive for more”. This work-hard attitude is what helped to win Clifford the captain position. The boys missed the playoffs by one game, and only lost two games the entire season. Much of this great season stemmed from Clifford’s team-first mentality, and his will to win. Entering as a new Lower in 2004, Clifford immediately worked his way into a starting position, and his play and work ethic has constantly improved since the first day. In the strong New England Prep School league, Clifford showed early on that he could play at this high level. He is one of the strongest players on the field at all times, and his physical play makes him a tough person to play against.One of Clifford’s strong points is his passion and determination. He is always giving one hundred percent effort, and his work ethic helps the players around him. Chase Potter ’09 said, “Clifford keeps up the intensity in practice because he constantly works hard and forces everyone around him to play at a higher level”. His hard work in practice allows him to be well prepared for the games. As Captain, one of Clifford’s main roles was to improve the team as a whole. His ability to help players during both games and practice is impressive. His concentration during the week pays of in game situations. Morgan Griff ’07 said, “Clifford never turns the ball over.” This allowed Clifford to lead the team in goals. Clifford uses his body and physical style of play to keep his opponents off the ball. One of Clifford’s most impressive games came in the league opener against Brooks School. This match is always an important one, as the team looks to start the season with a win, and Brooks is always a strong opponent. Clifford led Andover to a 3-1 win, while netting two goals in the process. This strong start set the pace for the rest of Clifford’s season. Another strong performance from Clifford came in the middle of the season against Tabor. A skillful and physical game allowed Clifford to take two penalty shots, calmly scoring on both of them. Clifford also connected with A.J. Charles ’07 for an assist during the match. This gave Clifford three points on the day, and led the team to a 4-1 victory over Tabor. Clifford was not only a strong goal scorer, but also created many opportunities for his teammates. His strong field presence, and his great vision on the field, allowed him to find his teammates during important situations. Many of his passes and through-balls resulted in either goals or strong scoring chances. Clifford is an unselfish player, which showed up in his strong passing and his ability to work with his teammates on the field. The team’s season ended early as they barely missed a playoff spot, but Clifford hopes to continue playing in college. His teammates believe he can play college soccer, and his physical nature will help him to play at that next level. Clifford went above and beyond others’ expectations of him on and off the field, earning him male athlete of the term.
