Senior player, Marco Pinialis, is a midfielder on Shadow Ridge’s Varsity Boy’s Soccer. He has been playing soccer since he was 6 years old and currently plays for a club called Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club.
His parents have always been his biggest believers during his sports career. They introduced him to the soccer community when he was younger after he watched his older brother play.
Pinialis comments, “Originally my brother is the person who got me into it because he is eight years older than me and he played so I looked up to him. Then I talked to my parents to get me in.”
Another person he looks up to is one of his captains, junior, Saeed Quevedo, who plays center back defender on the school team. Pinialis thinks Quevedo is a good captain as he always shows leadership everyday.
“My favorite captain is Saeed. He is always giving tips on how to be better and how to fix mistakes. He is always very understanding and outgoing,” Pinialis states.
As this is his final year being able to play with his captain and other teammates, he has not decided where he wants to go to college. However, Pinialis is looking forward to spending his last season with his teammates.
Pinialis shares, “I have some offers that I am not ready to commit to yet. I’m just trying to look into my future and see my other options before committing to anything. This season I am going to enjoy being out there with my boys one last time this year and just having fun.”
He is also looking forward to playing with one of his best friends who is center midfielder on Shadow Ridge’s varsity team.
Pinialis comments, “I’m looking forward to playing with Connor who has been one of my best friends throughout the years. If I need someone, I know he will be there on the field and off.”
When he is on the field he is always showing sportsmanship to his teammates and other players as well as supporting everyone when they are having a hard time. He helps his team to win as he is a mandatory part of the soccer system. As a midfielder he connects the defense to the offense.
“When someone makes a mistake I am the first one to pick them back up… I love playing my position because the midfielder position is basically the engine of the team, most of the time everything goes through me,” says Pinialis.
Coach LaVoie, Head Soccer Coach of both Boys and Girl’s Varsity Soccer, has gotten to see Pinialis improve over the years while having him play for the Ridge. LaVoie enjoys getting to see him build the team chemistry and keep situations handled when they become overbearing.
LaVoie comments, “Marco is a team player and he’s a leader both on and off the field, he always has a smile on his face and he has a calmness about him. No matter the situation, Marco remains mature, he will be missed next year.”
