RESERVE — The Riverside Academy Rebels soccer team is standing at the beginning of a multi-year road to rebuilding.

It’s been a rough season for the Rebels, who exited the week 0-7-2 with four games remaining. This week, the boys ended a game against Patrick Taylor in a 1-1 tie and took a loss against Houma Christian.

Coach Ryan Zeller said the Rebels are exceptionally young with middle school players taking starting positions and battling against seniors on opposing teams.

The boys are still focused on mastering soccer fundamentals, but the silver lining is the starting players have years to develop their talents.

“We’re not where we want to be in terms of wins and losses right now,” Zeller said. “We’re building for a couple of years from now. I think when they become sophomores and juniors, we’ll be a force.”

Eighth grader Enrique Delgado, who starts in midfield, and seventh grader Craig Pavageau are standouts who have great potential, Zeller said.

Sophomore Keiahz Bernard is very quiet, but he never has an issue on the field or in the classroom.

“He’s a very respectable kid and an even better soccer player,” Zeller said. “By the time he’s a senior, he’s going to be great for us.”

The Rebels do enjoy leadership from senior co-captains Colton Wilson and Devlin Darwin, who are each talented defensive players.

Darwin has progressed a lot since starting soccer last year, according to Zeller, and Wilson is an athletically gifted player who controls the field from top to bottom.