By Rubin E. Grant
Although Ian Myers is a senior, he had to wait until this spring to take over as Homewood’s goalkeeper on the varsity soccer team.
Myers started in goal on the Patriots’ junior varsity in 2017 and was called up to the varsity when the postseason arrived, but he didn’t get to play in a game.
He knew why.
“The goalkeeper we had last year, Chandler Harris, was very good,” Myers said, “so I under- stood why I was on the JV.”
Harris recorded nine shutouts and was named honorable mention All-State as Homewood reached the Class 6A quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Pelham. Harris is now a freshman at Tulane.
Harris’ backup last season was Myers’ older brother Evan, who’s now a freshman at Furman.
With the departures of Harris and his older brother, Ian Myers gladly stepped into goal for the Patriots this season.
“I was ready to play,” he said. “It’s exciting to finally get the opportunity. Even though this is my first year on the varsity, I’ve played with all the guys before.”
Myers is making the most of his opportunity. He has allowed only five goals in 14 games and recorded 11 shutouts, helping Homewood post a 12-0-2 record before taking off for spring break last week.
“He’s a great kid,” Homewood coach Scott McBride said. “Goalkeeper is such a specialized position and I don’t give him a lot of training. I just put him in net and tell him to try to stop the ball.
“He fits the position like a glove. He’s 6-foot-3 and he’s got a lot of natural ability.”
Sticking With the Position
Myers has been a goalkeeper since he began playing soccer, “whatever age that was,” he said. “My first season I was the goalkeeper and I enjoyed it, so I’ve stuck with it since.”
The experience he has gained from playing the same position for several years has been invaluable.
“Since I’ve been playing goalkeeper so long, there are not a lot of situations I haven’t seen,” Myers said. “I know how to react and make the play I need to make.”
Myers’ knowledge enables him to set up the Patriots’ defensive strategy, barking out instructions to his teammates.
“He’s such a good communicator,” McBride said. “He’s always talking to players in the back on defense. I think that’s why we haven’t conceded many goals.”
Myers agrees with his coach.
“I think I have played well and I think I have made some pretty good saves, too,” Myers said. “But we have a strong defense. All of our defenders are good on the ball and that makes it easier for me.”
In addition to being a standout goalkeeper, Myers excels in the classroom. He has a 4.4 grade-point average and made 34 on the ACT. He is headed to Northwestern to study engineering on an academic scholarship.
“I don’t think I’ll play (NCAA) Division I soccer,” Myers said. “I’ll probably play club or intramural because it’s still one of my favorite things to do.”
Meanwhile, Myers is trying to help Homewood end its four-year drought without a state championship. The Patriots haven’t won a title since capturing the 2014 Class 5A crown, the year before the Alabama High School Athletic Association expanded to seven classifications.
“I think we are one the favorites without a doubt,” Myers said. “We’ve already played a lot of the better 6A teams, so that’s a good thing since we know what kind of challenge they present. I think we have a good chance to win state.” ❖
