Powerful presence on the pitch

Oak Park's Arsht specializes in scoring goals


Alec Arsht

Alec Arsht


Oak Park High boys’ soccer player Alec Arsht has learned to expect the unexpected.

Through the Eagles’ first eight games, Arsht has been an offensive machine.

Entering Wednesday night’s game against Oaks Christian, the junior had already scored a teamleading eight goals. The high scoring total doesn’t come as a surprise to Arsht.

“After I scored my first goal this year, I started to believe that I could score a goal every game,” Arsht said.

“Every game, I’ve been getting an opportunity to score, and, thankfully, I’ve been cashing in. My teammates have also helped me with their great passes.”

Arsht has a new coach this season, Silver Martinez, but that didn’t come as a shock to Arsht, either. After replacing Mo Burgess after last season, Martinez is Arsht’s third coach in three years.

“Yeah, nothing really surprises me anymore concerning this team,” Arsht said with a laugh. “I know my role now with this team.”

Arsht learned his role and how to deal with the unexpected after a bus ride to Channel Islands High during his freshman year.

He’d been selected to play for the junior varsity squad earlier that season but missed the Eagles’ first game due to a torn hamstring. As the team bus made the trip up north, Arsht was feeling better and expected to compete in his first game when Chris Henderson, then the varsity head coach, sat down next to Arsht.

“He tapped me on the shoulder and told me that instead of playing that night for the junior varsity squad, I would be playing for the varsity team,” Arsht said.

“I was sitting with my buddies and they were like, ‘Whoa, nice, man.’ I didn’t see this coming at all. I was happy, but I was more nervous than anything.”

Arsht was competing in warmup drills 20 minutes before the game when Henderson delivered more stunning news.

“Coach then surprised me again by telling me that instead of coming off the bench, I would be starting at right defense,” Arsht said.

“I couldn’t believe it. I had started the day playing on the junior varsity squad, and now here I was, a 14-year-old competing with 18-year-olds.”

Arsht said his nerves were calmed when Bill Cunningham, then a senior captain, came up to him moments before kickoff.

“He told me not to be nervous,” Arsht said. “He had seen me play before, and he told me I belonged. He would end up taking me under his wing that whole year, and I played better because of it. We’re still buddies, and he still comes to my home games to this day.”

This season, Cunningham and the rest of the local soccer community has watched Arsht become one of the better players in the TriValley League. Now playing the center/midfield position, Arsht is looked upon as one of the team leaders for the Eagles.

“Right away, when I met with the team for the first time, I knew Arsht was going to be the leader,” Martinez said.

“You could tell by his attitude and his body language. He’s always the first one to practice and the last to leave. He does a great job pushing himself and his teammates in practice,” the coach said.

Although Martinez was new to the program, he said Arsht had nothing to prove.

“I saw him play in the summer, and you could see his talent right away,” Martinez said.

“Based on his talent, I’m not shocked either that he’s scored eight goals already. He has very quick feet, he’s very technical, and he’s unselfish.”

Arsht said he’s proud of his individual accomplishments, but what he wants more than anything is for Oak Park to get back into the postseason.

Last year, the Eagles lost in the first round of the CIFSouthern Section Division V playoffs to Brentwood.

“Winning league is my No. 1 priority,” Arsht said. “I talk with my senior teammate, Tyler Dupont, all the time about sending him off on a banner season.

“I want to have him get a banner for winning league, and then, hopefully, we can go far in the postseason and get him a banner for CIF.”

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers FLEET OF FOOT—Oak Park High junior Alec Arsht led the Eagles with eight goals entering Wednesday's match vs. Oaks Christian.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers FLEET OF FOOT—Oak Park High junior Alec Arsht led the Eagles with eight goals entering Wednesday’s match vs. Oaks Christian.

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