Striker nets perfect reward

SARASOTA — For Alex Turner, a goal is more than just a figure on a stat sheet. 

It’s a "thank you" to his teammates and a reward for the hard work they continually put in on the field. 

Turner, a junior captain on the Cardinal Mooney boys soccer team, has had the pleasure of saying thanks to his teammates 31 times this season. 

“It feels so rewarding,” Turner said of scoring a goal. “Your teammates work so hard for you, so it’s a really good feeling to be able to help the team out.” 

A natural scorer who has the ability to attack with both feet, Cardinal Mooney knew it had something special in Turner when he came onto the scene as a freshman. 

“We always knew he had raw talent,” coach Sebastian Marin said. “He makes his teammates better players, and that’s been a major key to our success. 

“We’ve improved as a team because of his attitude and his ability to be a positive teammate,” Marin said. “He’s always trying to find a way to get his teammates who have never scored a goal their first one.” 

With one regular season game remaining before the Class 2A- District 11 tournament, which begins Jan. 19, the Cougars’ striker has nearly doubled his production from last season when he netted 19 goals. 

Turner also has seven hat tricks — one of which came during the preseason. His most recent hat trick came against Braden River Jan. 5 when he scored a season-high four goals to give the Cougars a 5-4 victory. 

Although, while Turner is in the midst of his most memorable season in a Cardinal Mooney uniform, the Cougars’ striker is quick to point out that Cardinal Mooney’s success doesn’t simply fall on his feet. 

Soccer is a team sport; and when it comes to netting goals, Turner needs the support of an entire cast. 

Cardinal Mooney’s movement begins in the center of the backfield with defenders Max Yull and Alessandro Ciaccio and then up the middle of the field to Joey Firek and Mychael Deprado, who control the sides of the field.

From there, it’s up to Turner and fellow forwards Ryan Blechta and Brandon Boynes to attack the net and finish their chances when they get them. 

“I like when the team scores,” Turner said. “As long as the team is winning, then I’m happy.” 

Turner began playing soccer for the Braden River Soccer Club when he was 5 years old before transitioning to FC Florida, an elite travel soccer team on the East Coast, which was ranked No. 1 in the state last year. 

In his first season as a team captain, Turner, who is garnering attention from Notre Dame and Wake Forest, not only has improved his own skill set, but he’s been fortunate enough to be a part of a varsity lineup that features 11 club soccer players, including his younger brother Garrett Turner, who is a sophomore. 

“We’re more experienced and much better as a team this season,” Turner said. “Having my teammates around has really helped myself as well. My teammates have confidence in me and know that I’m always going to do what’s best for the team.” 

Cardinal Mooney has outscored its opponents 62-18 so far this season, resulting in a 12-2-1 record and the No. 2 seed in the district tournament. 

With the final week of the regular season underway, Turner and his teammates have begun to turn their attention to one of the goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the season — a district championship. 

The Cougars haven’t won a district title since Turner has been at the school, falling to DeSoto County each of the past two seasons. 

Cardinal Mooney tied DeSoto 1-1 in their first meeting Nov. 17 before falling to the Bulldogs 3-2 Dec. 3 — a game in which Turner wasn’t on the field. The Cougars will play Sarasota Military Academy in the district semifinals next Tuesday night. A win and Cardinal Mooney will earn an automatic berth in the regional tournament and its third matchup with the Bulldogs — a game Turner hopes to net into a crowning moment. 

“I think with the way we have been playing lately, I can see us going to states,” Turner said. “We lost our focus toward the end of last year. We just need to go play our game, and, as a team, mentally believe that we’re going to win every game.” 

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].