Sports Boys Player of the Year: Its all about team chemistry for Panthers standout

Thomas Wells | Buy at photos.djournal.com Amory senior striker Brendan Koehn scored 22 goals with seven assists as the Panthers went 20-2-1 and reached the state semifinals for a second year in a row.

By Melissa Meador

Monroe Journal

Amory forward Brendan Koehn didnt let starting the soccer season a few games late slow him down.

The senior, who was a kicker for the football team, still scored 22 goals and notched seven assists as he helped lead the Panthers to their second-straight North finals appearance.

Missing the first few games was awful. It killed me, but I knew I couldnt just leave football. That season came first, Koehn said. I played in a few tournaments during the football break, so I felt like I was still in my groove with soccer.

Koehns play this season led to him being named the Daily Journals Player of the Year.

Koehn attributes the Panthers success over the last few years to team chemistry, some of which was fostered while working as teammates on Amory youth teams.

We together growing up. Our freshmen year, when we lost 7 or 8 seniors, it was our time to step up, said Koehn, who scored 31 goals as a junior. Last year, we had the season of a lifetime, and we took everyone by surprise. I felt like this year was our year. We made it to North half again, but I think we came in with a sense of pride that we were already going through, and we didnt play our game.

He and teammates Aaron Pressley, Jake Kirkpatrick, Ryan Morgan and Austin Rowell will carry that chemistry to ICC, as all five signed with the Indians.

Excited for future

Its incredible, seeing where we started and where we are now. Next year could be unbelievable, Koehn said. Its not only us five, but its teammates that Ive had over the past few years, too. We all have chemistry in some form.

Koehn was recently named the MVP of the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star soccer game in Clinton after scoring a hat trick in the Norths win.

I was ecstatic, because I wanted to be one of those guys who went down there and performed, he said. It was a group of guys with unbelievable skill and talent down there. It was probably my most memorable moment of the high school season.

melissa.meador@journalinc.com

Twitter: @MelissaMeador14

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Boys Player of the Year: It's all about team chemistry for Panthers' standout - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal