Blaine Teahan
GRAND LEDGE – The role of leader is something Blaine Teahan has relished since age 11, when the Grand Ledge native decided to transition to goalkeeper after playing soccer for almost seven years.
Aside from his “good hands,” Teahan said the position switch was more about being able to impact the game in more ways than one.
In his second year as the starting goalkeeper for the Comets, the senior has put his prints on the program’s best regular season in school history. Teahan has recorded nine shutouts for Grand Ledge and has been a vocal leader for a team that went 9-0-3 during the regular season, captured its first outright conference championship in program history and enters the CAAC Gold Cup as the top seed.
“(Playing keeper) there’s more of an opportunity to be a leader on the team,” said Teahan, whose team went undefeated in the CAAC Blue this year. “I get to see the whole (field) and help the back line out.”
In 12 games this season, Teahan has surrendered five goals. He was scored on twice in seven conference games.
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Teahan said the relationship with his back line, which consists of returning starters Brendan Garfield and Parker Fitzgerald, has been pivotal in the team’s stout defensive efforts this season.
“There’s been more camaraderie on our team,” he added. “Last year, there was more of a gap between the juniors and seniors. But, this year, there’s a lot more team chemistry.”
Garfield, also a senior, said having Teahan between the pipes has made the defense’s job a bit easier.
“With him in the back, we can give (teams) certain shots and feel comfortable,” Garfield added. “We don’t have to guard opponents outside of where we’re comfortable at because we know he’s going to stop it.”
Eight-year coach Scott Dane said his keeper’s improvement has also allowed the defense to take more risks. In addition, he added that last year’s trip to the CAAC Gold Cup final and having a significant number of returning starters has played into the team’s success.
“There’s so much confidence in him to make a save that I think our back line plays a little more aggressive,” Dane said. “They have the confidence, even if they make a mistake, because they have this great safety valve behind them. It’s a collective, for sure, but the confidence that is instilled in the rest of the team because Blaine is behind them has really helped, overall, throughout the field.”
The Comets have already put a check next to “win the league” on their to-do list for 2016. Now, Teahan said his side has its sights set on continuing this program-best ride.
“We want to win the Gold Cup,” he said. “We want to win districts, as well. That’s going to be a tough challenge, but that’s our expectation.”
Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.