The season hasn’t begun the way Head Coach Joe Weems wanted for his soccer program.

Pearl River Central’s boys and girls soccer teams are yet to find their first win, but there’s still plenty of time left in the season for the two teams to turn things around. 

The Blue Devils have had some tough opponents to start the year, including Oak Grove and Stone who are both off to fast starts this season.

However there have been some bright spots for the Blue Devils this season, which includes two senior players who are key to the team’s success.

On the boys side Samuel Lambert has provided serious range from the midfield position.

Lambert is able to play the holding midfield position where he shields the back line from any counter attacks, while also providing an option going forward where he can link up with other attacking players.

For the girls team Samantha Kennedy is a calming presence on the backline.

Weems said defender wasn’t Kennedy’s original position, but after moving to the center of defense she made the position her own.

Kennedy’s touch and pace also makes her dangerous when she’s moved up the pitch to embrace a more attacking role.

Weems said the focus so far this season in practice has been working on the players’ touch.

Being able to control a pass in traffic and calmly find an outlet is an important skill in soccer.

However, it isn’t one that comes easily and so there are a variety of drills Weems puts his athletes through to improve their ability to handle pressure when they have the ball at their feet.

The teams are four games into a season that lasts into late January, so there’s still ample opportunity for the squads to make a playoff run.

The next match up for the two squads comes against Laurel’s Golden Tornadoes.

The away game will take place on Nov. 21 with the girls set to kickoff at 5:30 p.m. and the boys’ game beginning at 7 p.m.

Laurel’s girls team is 2-4 while the boys team is 1-3-3.

Travel may have an affect on the Blue Devils as they have to make the hour and a half trek up I-59 to take on the Golden Tornadoes.

After the game against Laurel both squads will have time to rest, recover and possibly get some injured players healed before playing on Dec. 3 against Hancock.