Boys soccer: Rouleau is the go-to guy for Atlantic Shores

CHESAPEAKE

David Rouleau is a target.

Whether he’s moving into space, flashing open for his Atlantic Shores boys soccer teammates and peppering the opposition’s goal with shots, or eluding defenders with slippery footwork, the bull’s-eye is a constant.

“It comes with a lot of responsibility because they count on me to be there,” Rouleau said of being his team’s key offensive threat. “It gives me a sense of pride that I can do something for this team.”

Rouleau, a junior forward, is currently atop the Metro Conference scoring list with 24 goals and five assists.

“He brings a lot of offense to the team,” Atlantic Shores coach Scott Osborne said. “He brings something to our team that gives us a threat no matter who we play.”

He finished last season as the Metro Conference’s fourth-leading scorer, with 12 goals and 11 assists, and was named first-team all-conference.

For Rouleau, with each goal, his emotions range from “I scored, and it’s time to get back to business” when his team has a big lead to “the adrenaline is pumping, and I’m overjoyed” when a late goal is needed.

It’s his consistency and patience that makes him a player Osborne considers one of the favorites to be conference Player of the Year.

“He picks up the other players’ quality of play,” Osborne said. “They see him do things and start to move into space and play balls to his feet.”

Rouleau wants to continue at the next level and has been contacted by Rider University in New Jersey and Emory College in Georgia.

His current goal, though, is to help his team keep pace with two-time defending conference regular-season and tournament champion Denbigh Baptist. The Seahawks were tournament runners-up each of the last two seasons — edged out on penalty kicks two years ago, then losing 1-0 last season. The two teams are currently undefeated in league play, but the Seahawks are two behind in the win column at 4-0-1 to Denbigh Baptist’s 6-0-1.

Leading Atlantic Shores to its first-ever appearance in the private school state tournament is another ambition. Last season, the Seahawks fell one vote short of the top eight schools to qualify for the tournament .

“That would be an awesome achievement for our team,” Rouleau said.

The lowdown on Rouleau:

School Atlantic Shores

Class Junior

Sport Soccer

Claim to fame Rouleau is the leading scorer in the Metro Conference, with 24 goals and five assists.

Most memorable goal His favorite score happened last season against Walsingham. “I got a great ball over the top, took it down with my knee and volleyed it one time into the back of the net,” he recalled. “That was probably the best goal for school I’ve had.”

Press play “Wax On, Wax Off” by the Kovas is spinning on his iPod .