By Hayden Swope

Nate Stevens, an all-state and all-league first team midfielder for Andover Central soccer, has been ready to take on his senior year for a while. After a heartbreaking injury last year, Stevens is putting it all on the field this season. 

“My goal this season is to break Andover Central’s scoring record,” Stevens said. “I tied the record last year during the last game of the postseason, but unfortunately I had a season ending injury towards the end. The current school record is 23 goals, but I’m aiming for 30. Also, me and my teammates share a goal of making it to state this year.”

While recovering over the offseason, Stevens has also been training to better his strengths and weaknesses.

“To prepare this preseason I was constantly practicing my touch, dribbling, and shooting both with my team and by myself,” Stevens said. “My main focus when preparing for the season was to improve my conditioning.”

Stevens’ world revolves around soccer all throughout the year, but he still takes the time to get involved in the school. 

“I don’t play any other sports for school because I play soccer year round,” Stevens said. “However, I am on the Buff Puff team, which is where each class puts together a boys volleyball team and we have a tournament.”

A big future is awaiting for Stevens, and he even has aspirations to continue playing the game he loves. 

“After high school I plan to attend college as well as play college soccer,” Stevens said. “I haven’t decided where I want to go or what I want to major in yet, but I am interested in the engineering field. I am currently in the CAPS engineering program to get experience in the field and eventually decide if I would like to pursue a career in that area.”