When 16 seniors graduated from Hagerty’s boys soccer program last year a lot of roles needed to be filled to keep the team ready to play.

“We needed someone stable at central mid,” Hagerty head coach Michael McAvoy said.

In step Michael Lynch. The senior and Hagerty’s career leader in goals scored and assists starred at forward the past two season’s for the Huskies, but now was preparing to move to central midfielder.

“I was looking forward to it because I didn’t know how the players were going to be, like if we were lacking or not,” Lynch recalled. “But I knew if I was there in midfield it would be okay for defense and attack.”

It’s been more than okay really. Hagerty went 2-0 last week improving their record to 12-2-1. Michael an ever present stable in the box score.  He had a goal and an assist in a big come from behind victory over rival Oviedo and then found the back of the net twice and added an assist against Lake Brantley.

“He’s got a good cast around him but he is able to attack because we have a holding mid as well,” McAvoy said.

Michael readily acknowledges the pressure of needing to play solid defense when you’re in midfield but also knows he gets to create for others more this way.

“I feel like I can pass good too so it’s okay if I play mid instead of striker,” said Lynch. “Jordan Snoap he basically is really good at getting the ball and scoring when I pass it to him.”

“And I think Michael is more composed and controlled so getting him at central mid I think has helped me out because I’m more of an explosive player and what I like to do when I play is go fast instead of slowing it down and controlling the pace,” said Snoap.

“So when he’s in the midfield he can just dish me ball and get them thru and to my feet and it just works really well.”

Well enough to hopefully propel Hagerty to postseason success they’ve never seen.