They even know the other one would say that.
“It’s almost like he reads my mind,” Goodwin says one moment.
“Ever since the first game, we’ve been able to read each other’s minds,” Roberts adds later.
The two mind-reading Hough High forwards have combined for 25 goals and 13 assists as the Huskies have posted an 8-1-1 record through Monday’s 4-0 win over North Meck, having formed an effective combo up top for the team that reached the 4A semifinals a year ago and hopes to make such runs a tradition.
“They have a great work ethic, and the guys are really producing numbers-wise,” says Hough coach David Smith.
Goodwin, an all-region selection last year, entered his senior season as one of the top soccer players around and has lived up to that reputation after being healthy for just 10 matches a year ago. Smith is confident there are few area players who can match Goodwin’s skills, especially when he is matched up against a sole defender. Though he routinely makes the extraordinary appear ordinary, Goodwin still impresses his coach and teammates. He leads the team in goals (14) and assists (8), has scored in nine of Hough’s matches and has scored twice against Vance, Hopewell, Weddington and Cox Mill.
“He loves playing the game so much right now,” says Smith.
And the Huskies coach is pleased with how Goodwin has welcomed Roberts to the fold, not that he’s surprised.
“Nathaniel has no ego whatsoever,” says Smith. “That’s a big factor, for me.”
Roberts is a freshman, the son of North Meck High girls’ coach Neil Roberts and the younger brother of former Hopewell all-region player Tyler Roberts, who graduated in June. But Tanner has already made a name for himself in his first fall of prep soccer. He has scored in seven matches and had hat tricks against Independence and Providence. He has totaled 11 goals and five assists.
“He’s making it look easy as a freshman,” says Hough center midfielder Cheyn Roux.
With last year’s strong team returning intact this season, Smith says Roberts was able to enter the lineup without any pressure and just contribute where he could. It’s turned out to be quite a bit.
“As a striker up top, he’s been very mature,” says Smith. “He obviously understands the game well for his age.”
Roux has assisted on seven Husky goals and says passing ahead to Goodwin and Roberts makes life in the midfield a lot of fun.
“They have that mindset to score,” he says.
The Huskies are currently without their other starting center midfielder, Santiago Patino, who is out with an ankle injury. Also an all-region player last year, Patino has six assists this season, despite missing four matches. He is expected back soon.
The Huskies have won seven matches and tied one since a disappointing 5-2 loss to South Meck in first week of the season. The wins include a pair over their crosstown rivals this past week. Goodwin had two goals in Hough’s 4-1 win over Hopewell last Wednesday, while Roux and Roberts added one apiece. Goodwin, Roberts, Roux and Justin Collins had assists.
Against North Monday, Roberts, Goodwin, Roux and Andres Duarte scored, while Goodwin, Roux, Patrick Andreas and Davis Park had assists. Jaron Bradley and Collin Black combined for the shutout in goal.
