2025-02-07, 03:44 PM - Word count:
What a incredible rookie season.
When I was drafted to North Shore, I never imagined I would get prime time minutes on the pitch as a first-year minor leaguer. Much less that I would have such a big impact on the club, our pacing, our opportunities and our wins.
I started my career long ago as a defender. I was always good at that job, but never as good at that as I have been on the attack, pressuring defenses and creating goals for my teammates. I led the minor leagues in S18 with 90 open play key passes - passes made to teammates that resulted in shots on goal resulting only from open play. I like to think that was a big reason why our club led the league with 51 goals scored (the next closest was Montreal with 43) and why my teammate and friend was able to lead the minors with 18 goals scored on the year. I finished second in the minors with 9 assists, behind teammate Santos Neymarinho's 11. I have gone from bruising body basher on the backline, to facilitator near the front. And I could not love it more.
This offseason, my training is focused on taking that next step toward greatness. How do I take the skills that have made me such a good creator, and torque them a bit to also becoming a great finisher? A complete player does not just set up teammates when the chances are right, but can put the ball in the back of the net when the opportunity arises. That's the next phase of George Shaheen's game, and if I can take that next step, the sky is the limit on the arc my SSL career may take.
I'll save the dreaming for sleep. While awake, I train. S19 approaches.
When I was drafted to North Shore, I never imagined I would get prime time minutes on the pitch as a first-year minor leaguer. Much less that I would have such a big impact on the club, our pacing, our opportunities and our wins.
I started my career long ago as a defender. I was always good at that job, but never as good at that as I have been on the attack, pressuring defenses and creating goals for my teammates. I led the minor leagues in S18 with 90 open play key passes - passes made to teammates that resulted in shots on goal resulting only from open play. I like to think that was a big reason why our club led the league with 51 goals scored (the next closest was Montreal with 43) and why my teammate and friend was able to lead the minors with 18 goals scored on the year. I finished second in the minors with 9 assists, behind teammate Santos Neymarinho's 11. I have gone from bruising body basher on the backline, to facilitator near the front. And I could not love it more.
This offseason, my training is focused on taking that next step toward greatness. How do I take the skills that have made me such a good creator, and torque them a bit to also becoming a great finisher? A complete player does not just set up teammates when the chances are right, but can put the ball in the back of the net when the opportunity arises. That's the next phase of George Shaheen's game, and if I can take that next step, the sky is the limit on the arc my SSL career may take.
I'll save the dreaming for sleep. While awake, I train. S19 approaches.
