JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Mandarin Boys Soccer program is looking forward to their comeback season as all players with season ending injuries from last season's team are back and healthy.
"We had Keller who tore his ACL, we had Aiden who tore his ACL last year. We had two other starters who had debilitating knee or ankle injuries that we were without," said Mandarin Boys Head Soccer Coach.
Mandarin boys soccer went through a lot last year.
Especially for Jack Eddy who decided to give football a try for the first time ever in his junior year.
"I was playing running back against AC, our rivals. The student section, I did play yet, they were chanting my name because we were up 30-0. Put me in, first play, boom-snap," said Eddy.
He tore his ACL and meniscus.
"Soccer was the first thing that came to mind," Eddy added, "soccer was my priority. Soccer was my first sport."
The team went undefeated, but that didn't matter when they were taken out in the first round of the playoffs.
Cooley said maybe things would've been different if Jack was in.
"We just couldn't get over the hump and get that one goal and he would've been a perfect candidate to find a way. You know what I mean"
Eddy's recovery was the hardest phase of his life.
"First few months, you can't walk. I couldn't work out or do things I was used to. I had a lot of pent up emotions that I would usually get out playing sports that I had to just deal with," he added.
With a healthy herd of mustangs back this season Jack is back and happy he can suit up alongside them.
"Humility. It taught me to be thankful, gratitude for what you have because when it's taken from you, you kind of take things for granted. It taught me to work really hard. That PT man, it's not easy."
The Mustangs started their first three games hot, so far, going undefeated so far and not allowing any goals.