WINTER ALL-AREA: Land named LCR's Boys Soccer Player of the Year

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  • Garrison Land anchored the CHS defense, helping preserve several draws. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)
    Garrison Land anchored the CHS defense, helping preserve several draws. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)
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Columbia avoided a losing record this season thanks to seven ties.

Without center back Garrison Land, the Tigers’ 8-8-7 mark could have looked a lot worse.

How much worse? Try seven more losses instead of seven draws. 

“Seven. Truly,” Columbia coach Trevor Hickman said. “He played every game for us and he was that valuable to our team. He played through some pain. He had some issues during the season but you couldn’t keep him off the field. Even when he wasn’t 100 percent, his presence out there made everyone around him better.”

Land was instrumental in Columbia’s back end, anchoring a defense that allowed just 1.56 goals per game. As a captain in his senior year, Land also contributed a little offensively, scoring two goals with three assists.

His stellar play is why he’s the Lake City Reporter’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

“I didn’t do it by myself but I’ve always been looking for this opportunity and this spot to be able to step up in that position,” Land said. “Last year I contributed quite a bit in the defensive-mid spot but I’ve always liked to be the center back and see everything and help build out the team. It’s what I’ve been working hard and training for.”

Land held keep the ship steady midway through the season after the Tigers started 5-3. Six of their next eight games were ties and they only lost once, due in part to Land’s ability to keep opponents off of the scoreboard. 

Columbia didn’t allow more than two goals in any match during that run and only surrendered one in a 1-0 loss to Maclay.

“I feel like I really helped hold it tight back there,” Land said. “I’m definitely not perfect and I made mistakes and stuff, but I think I definitely held it to a tie quite a few times this season.”

Land did it battling through shin splints, too. There were times when he looked banged up or hurt but he always pushed through that adversity in order to help his team.

Even if Hickman wanted to pull him off the field, Land wouldn’t allow it.

“He would say, ‘No way coach. I’m playing,’” Hickman said.

But it’s not just Land’s defensive prowess and toughness that make him a good soccer player. Hickman says it’s also his ability to lead the team that makes him stand out on the pitch.

“He was consistent, and when I say consistent, at a level that’s above average but he was consistently there,” Hickman said. “He led the team by example. Whenever something needed to be done, he would do it and I think that inspired the other defenders and players to try harder.”

Soccer has been a love for Land since he was in elementary school. He says he began playing when he was either seven or eight years old before taking in seriously in sixth grade.

That’s when he began playing travel ball for the CYSA Stingers before moving on to play for the Gainesville Soccer Alliance. Land was originally a midfielder for the Stingers until one game when an opposing player kept burning past the defense.

His coach needed someone to step up and shadow him. Land, who was 14 at the time, said he’d give it a shot.

“Turns out I had a hidden defensive talent,” Land said.

It was one Land put to go use when he got to Columbia. As a result, he didn’t score many goals as a Tiger but he got the opportunity to net a couple in his final season. 

Both were against Taylor County, with the second coming on Senior Night. That goal finished off a 8-0 mercy-rule win.

It was a moment he’ll never forget, capping off his three-year varsity career. Land is headed to study at Florida State where he hopes to one day become a physical therapist.

“It was a fun feeling, especially on Senior Night when I got the mercy-rule goal,” Land said. “That was a good feeling because it was at home and all the fans in the community were there. Everybody was cheering me on.”

 

ALL-COUNTY TEAM

Max Bavar

Columbia, Midfielder

The senior finished tied for the county lead with 22 points, scoring nine goals with four assists.

Noel Caballero

Columbia, Defender

The sophomore came up from defense to score five goals and was also key piece in the midfield for the Tigers.

Ismael Cisse

Columbia, Forward

The junior led the county with 10 goals and had two assists to finished tied for first with 22 points.

Bryant Rigdon

Columbia, Midfielder

The junior scored four goals and had seven assists to finish with 15 points as a key member in the midfield.