ROANOKE, VA. – It's one thing to be good, but another to be great.
Following practice on Wednesday coach Chris Dowdy told the team, "Our purpose is greater than most teams that we're playing."
Greatness is what Patrick Henry has been striving for all season long.
"We have guys that have specific sets of skills that have just come together really well. Sometimes you can make that happen. Some other times you can't. Some other times you're just kind of gifted with a good team," said Dowdy. He's in his 13th season as head coach.
Ten players have scored at least one goal and fourteen players have at least a goal or an assist. And at the defensive end they have only allowed seven goals all season. This is a big reason the team is off to a 12-0 start-- the best in school history.
"It's always nice to have a strong offense. We let one in in the game and we'll score four more to make up for it," said senior Sam Knisely.
UVA commit Irakoze Donasiyano has scored 18 goals and 10 assists and is a 2017 Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year finalist.
"It's all about hard working. We earned that and the whole team earned that. Working together, working hard and not giving up", said Donasiyano.
And while the Patriots are off to a hot start on the field this season, they attribute much of their success to what happened in the off-season in the sands.
Every year prior to the season the team takes a trip to the beach. This is where team bonding is at its finest and it has certainly shown on the field in 2017.
"We play sand soccer that's so much fun and it brings everybody together. The competition is great," said Donasiyano.
Despite the success so far, the team keeps in mind it's not how you start but rather how you finish.
"We obviously would like to finish out the same way, but ultimately we want some higher success and they know that's on the plate for us as well," said Dowdy.