Sweat.  Sickness.  Raw emotion.  Breathlessness.  These words are all too familiar to the soccer players during preseason.

Two-mile Monday is the culmination of every player’s nightmares.  Every Monday, when clock hits 1:50, they begin the long haul around the track.

But, there is an upside to this grueling task.  Many, if not all, believe it is the reason they are competitive.

“We’re definitely in better shape by the end of the preseason,” junior Evan Caddy said.

And, according to the players, two-mile Monday is worth the outcome.

“It’s always worth it.  We may not like it but it always pays out,” senior Justin Travis said.

After coming back from a two-week Christmas break, it was difficult for players to get back in shape.

“The hardest part of the two-mile was coming back from Christmas break; some of us just weren’t prepared,” junior Bryan Oldham said.

After finishing 14-6 overall and losing 11 seniors last year, including Forrest Fowler and Jesse Wolf, the team is much younger than it has been in the past.  Even with their significant loss of experience, they are still confident about the coming season.

“We may be a little bit younger this year, but we still have some experience coming back.  I think we have a chance to win the conference again this year,” coach Jason Hay said.