When you go from starter to injured starter, doubt can creep into your mind. Double that when you go from injured starter to out for the season.
That’s the scenario Alex Hale faced last year as a member of Christian County’s soccer team.
Alex saw time as a freshman but the Colonels struggled to an 0-19-1 season.
As a sophomore, Alex was part of the turnaround the Colonel soccer program began as they jumped to seven wins and lost to Hopkinsville in double overtime in the district tournament semifinals.
Coming into 2023, Avery Seeger moved up to head coach after watching Alex play as an assistant. Alex scored five goals and handed out four assists for a team expected to return most of its roster.
However, three games into his junior season, Alex suffered a knee injury. The diagnosis was a torn ACL that would require surgery.
Alex watched as the Colonels avenged their loss to Hopkinsville in the district semifinals and took University Heights Academy to a shootout round in the championship. The Colonels came up short but won a first-round game in the region tournament and finished with eight wins.
After extensive rehab, Alex has enjoyed a successful return to the Colonel lineup. He wears the captain’s band on his arm, as he looks to not only provide leadership on the field as a senior but also make up for some lost time from a year ago.
The Colonels have already matched last year’s win total with eight games still left in the regular season.
Alex has four goals and a team-leading nine assists as he has regained his comfort and familiarity in facilitating the Colonel offense.
As one of 15 seniors on the roster, Alex and the Colonels are playing with an added sense of urgency this season. Their only district setback came last week at the hands of UHA 3-2. They can lock up the No. 2 seed in the district on Thursday when they play Hopkinsville.
For Alex, this year’s Colonel team is different. There is a bigger sense of comradery they haven’t had in the past. There isn’t the barking between players or even barking at the coaches. The Colonels seem to know their roles and for Alex, part of that 0-19-1 freshman season, he wants to be a part of a historic program turnaround in the postseason.
In this YSE interview, Alex talks about his role and what makes this team different from others in the past.
