Midfielder Taylor Swander has been instrumental in feeding the ball to scoring star Shane LeCouris. They have Seven Rivers enjoying a 9-2 season.

Thomas E Gemkow
Times Correspondent

Sometimes you just hear a word that automatically makes you think of a natural partner to that word.

Things that are perfect together, and thought of in a sort of synonymous harmony.

Peanut butter and jelly. Thunder and lightning.

It works the same way for names.

Who can think of Jerry Rice and not automatically conjure thoughts of Joe Montana? What would Karl Malone be without a John Stockton to feed him the ball?

Where would Shane LeCouris be without Taylor Swander?

If you have trouble recalling the pair, then you may want to spend some time at the Seven Rivers Christian soccer field. Swander is on his way to becoming a star in his own right. As a midfielder for a Warriors squad that is 9-2 halfway through its season, Swander has been instrumental in feeding the ball to LeCouris, a standout forward who has filled the net with 19 goals this year.

“We live or die with our midfield play,” Seven Rivers coach Steve Ekeli said. “Taylor is the quarterback of this team. Everything starts and finishes with him.”

Swander and his family moved from New Jersey to Citrus County about a year ago, which may explain his impact on the Warriors program.

“All the schools are more soccer oriented in New Jersey,” Swander said.

In New Jersey and many other northern states, there is not as much emphasis put on high school football. More emphasis is placed on sports such as soccer, which is played year-round indoors and out.

Swander started out as a forward but was playing midfield just before moving to Florida.

“When I got here, I told coach Ekeli I played midfield in New Jersey,” Swander said.

Swander has produced 15 assists and three goals. He has been a quiet authoritarian, taking younger players under his wing to make the team a more cohesive unit.

“Taylor leads by example,” Ekeli said. “He is not emotional. He does not wear his heart on his sleeve. He comes out and plays hard and gives it his all every game. He is just not a real rah rah kid.”

Swander’s leadership has been an important aspect in the success of the relatively young Warriors. “We are a really young team,” Swander said. “Some of the guys have a lot of skill. They just need someone who can set them up, put the ball where it needs to be and show them what to do – someone who can play along side them.”

Swander is quick to give credit, not take it. He gives a lot of credit to fellow midfielder Chris Squire, who has been an offensive force with nine goals and assisting on 12 others.

If Swander is the walk softly and carry a big stick leader, Squire is the in your face, chest-bumping guy on the squad.

“Rest assured that if something goes wrong on the field, you will hear from Chris Squire,” Ekeli said. “Chris is an emotional guy. Early in the season, some of the young guys on the team would ask me, “Coach, is Chris really mad at me?’ I would tell them, “No, he just wants the best from you.’ ”

Despite playing together for a short time, Swander and Squire feed well off each other. “We’ve been really good together,” Swander said. “After playing with Chris for a year, we are working together well.”

That bodes well for the Warriors, as they enter the home stretch of the season and look forward to the playoffs.