The build.
The talent.
The self efficiency.
All the tools that Alec Saidian has had in his arsenal during his athletic career at Crawfordsville high school.
He was only missing one thing.
Leadership.
Something that most often comes with opportunity and age.
And the three-sport Athenian didn’t back down from the first opportunity to be a senior leader.
The stats speak for themselves, but with a first-year coach and a lot of missing pieces from the 2023 high-powered offense, Saidian used his defensive tactics and loud voice to lead the Athenian boys soccer program in 2024.
“Alec is very passionate about the sport of soccer, his position on the team as a captain, and his love for his teammates and coaches,” first-year Crawfordsville coach Roger Azar said. “Alec stepped up and led the team from behind during times when it seemed all was lost for the game. He continued to be a great asset to his teammates on and off the field.”
Saidian is the Journal Review Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
On the season, Saidian saved 174 opponents shots on goal and had three shutouts. On seven more occasions, the senior allowed just a single goal — helping lead Crawfordsville to a 7-8-2 record, despite the Athenians scoring just 37 goals.
“It’s obvious — his athleticism and height,” Azar said. “Alec can cover the goal from post to post, a feat not easily accomplished by many.”
That’s the build and the talent.
The three-sport part for Saidian is rare enough in these times. What’s even more unique is his position. Goalkeeper, basketball post-player, and all-conference hurdler.
A lot of solo dirty work off to the side to perfect his craft, while his teammates are working together.
“It’s a good challenge,” Saidian said. “I don’t always need to depend on someone, and it’s always kind of come natural. I’ve never known any different.”
That’s self-efficiency part.
With a new coach and new offense in place, Saidian didn’t back down from the challenge that presented itself either. He was the anchor for the Athenians, and he embraced the role.
“I embraced the challenge,” he said. “I kind of liked the pressure of knowing that my team depended on me, and I knew I had to step up. Obviously I had great people around me to help build me up to get there.”
It also allowed Azar to retool the offense in his first season.
“As a first-year coach, I take the responsibility for our on-field struggles,” he said. “I was learning different player personalities, different capabilities and athletic abilities of the student athletes. That resulted in our team starting a bit sluggish and improving as we went along. Alec did his job in goal, by keeping the least number of goals allowed, while we figured our optimal layout on the field. His continual communication with the defensive line allowed us to look at different options to improving the lock down of the back third of the field.”
After winning the conference when he was a freshman, sectional as a sophomore, and tying for the conference as a junior, Saidian and his senior teammates had high hopes entering 2024 — but never wavered when things didn’t go their way.
“We went into the season with high ambitions, and we still went into every game hoping to compete and get the best result possible,” he said. “Obviously it was difficult because we’ve had so much success and it was difficult trying to keep your head up, but you have to keep moving and competing, and just go after the next one.”
Crawfordsville had a stretch of three-straight losses early in the season, and followed it with three wins and a pair of ties over their next six games.
Saidian was a big part of why the Athenians confidence never wavered on the pitch this fall, and his leadership held the team together through the high and low points of the season.
Looking back, Saidian will be able to reflect on sectional and conference championships as a member of the Athenians, but his growth as a leader is another attribute to success he helped give the Crawfordsville soccer program.
“He is a gentleman on and off the field. He is respectful to young fans and people he coaches,” Azar said. “He teaches them what he knows, with care and love. The measure of a young man is not by the number of goals that he blocked, but by the number of young kids that he positively impacts.”
And with basketball and track to go, there’s plenty of growing still left to do.
“I’m just looking to keep improving and being a leader and someone people look up to, and going out and being the best I can every time,” Saidian said.