To Score a Goal

Westmoore standout forward Preston Cox doesn't do much wrong on the soccer field. The junior was second on the team in goals a year ago with 15. He has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-American team which consists of the top 70 players in the country. And he is the leader of the Jaguars. But Westmoore coach Randall Robison finds a problem with Cox. "He is too unselfish at times," Robison said. "I wish he would look to score more. He looks for other players a lot. But he is so good at recognizing goal-scoring opportunities that others can't see. He always puts himself and teammates in good position." Cox said he doesn't think that's a fault; it's a strength. "Everyone wants to score goals," he said. "It's really the only stat in soccer that matters. It gives you a sense that you did something in the game, no matter how good or bad you played. Everybody should want to feel like that." Cox has felt like that a lot as one of the best players and scorers in the state this year. "Not everyone can score goals," Cox said. "It's hard, especially in a sport that's low scoring. So when you do get a goal, you just feel like going crazy. It just gives you a boost the whole game and the other team looks at you with a lot more respect." Not all goals are the same either. There are the easy tap-ins off a pass. And then there are the 35-foot blasts that go into the upper corner of the goal. "When you hit a goal like that, you almost instantly go down in lore," Cox said. "You're the big shot, even if it happened a while ago. Coaches, players, and fans will remember it for a long time. So will you."