SOCCER

Union Catholic's Degnan is CN Boys Soccer Preseason Player of Year

Lauren Knego
Courier News and Home News Tribune

EDITOR'S NOTE: The preseason POY selection is based on the results of last week's preseason poll.

Kevin Degnan only knows how to compete one way, and that's giving 150 percent of himself on the field. 

Degnan, a senior midfielder and captain for the Union Catholic High School boy soccer team, was recently voted the 2017 Courier News Boys Soccer Preseason Player of the Year, and for good reason. 

"He is a hard-nosed, give-it-your-all type of guy in everything he does," Union Catholic coach Tim Breza said. "He gives you 150 percent of everything he’s got, no matter what time of day or type of game, he loves to play and he’s going to give it all he has. He’s an incredible kid, you don’t get too many like him, which is nice."

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Degnan has been on varsity for three years for the Vikings, and finished with 17 goals and three assists as a junior as the team went 14-4-1 and advanced to the NJSIAA North Non-Public A quarterfinals. 

For his career he has 23 goals and six assists, but it's not just about stats for Degnan, it's about doing everything it takes to help his team win. 

Union Catholic's Kevin Degnan is the 2017 Courier News Boys Soccer Preseason Player of the Year.

"I’m very competitive," Degnan said. "I’m always out there looking for an edge or trying to gain an advantage on a player or a team to give my team a chance to win at all times."

That drive and passion for the sport has been invaluable to Breza and Union Catholic the past three seasons. 

"He’s one of our captains, what he brings is enthusiasm and effort, his will to play," Breza said. "When he gets it going, everyone looks to him and we tend to pick up our play. He’s a very important part of the team on and off the field, he brings everything together."

Degnan, who also runs track in the winter and spring, has been playing soccer since kindergarten. As he explained, soccer offers so much more than just playing a sport, it's about being a part of a team. 

"Soccer is something I’ve done my whole life, I go to it to relax and have fun and build friendships with my teammates and coaches," Degnan said. "It’s something that’s always been there. Just a sense of being part of a team and going out and winning as a team."

So far this season, Union Catholic is 1-1, with a 4-0 opening day victory against Livingston, and a 2-0 loss against New Providence on Thursday. Degnan has been kept scoreless so far, but he's optimistic that he'll be able to help Union Catholic have a successful season.

When asked what he hopes to accomplish this year, he replied, "It’s my last high school season, so going out with a big season, having a good year and building more friendships and hopefully developing the younger guys so they can succeed in the years to come as a program."

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego