ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Andrew Abdelmalak

The Legacy soccer team, which won zero games during its first season of play and just four a season ago, is off to a 2-2 start already this winter. In the Eagles’ win Nov. 13 against International Community School, sophomore Andrew Abdelmalak recorded the program’s first hat trick when he scored 3 goals in a 3-0 victory.

What’s it mean to you to have had the first hat trick in Legacy’s soccer program’s history?

I didn’t know it was the first. I thought some other player had scored a hat trick. I was pretty excited (when I found out).

The team is off to a 2-2 start, which has it on pace to greatly eclipse last season’s four wins. What has your impression been so far of how the team has done?

I feel we’re getting way better and really fast. I think we’re way better than last year and a lot better than the first year.

You got a few important players back from football and cross country, now that those seasons are over. How big has that been?

It’s really helping us. I was the goalkeeper, and then one of the football guys took up that position, and he’s way better than me. So he helped me score the hat trick.

Would you like to shout out any of your teammates who gave you an assist during your big game?

Jonathan Briones gave me an assist, and I had awesome passes from Caleb Enright. 

Is there an opponent you’re particularly looking forward to facing?

We have a game on Friday against Orlando Christian Prep. We don’t know much about that team, but I (hope) we win that game.

You have three girls playing on the team. What’s that like?

Actually, some of the girl are doing better work than some of the boys.

Who is your favorite soccer player?

Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona.

Are you an Orlando City Soccer Club fan?

Oh yeah, I went to a few games this season. D.C. United was a pretty good game.

What else do you like to do with your free time?

I play FIFA a lot. I spend a lot of time playing it. I don’t count.

What’s your favorite class at Legacy?

Mrs. Wiggers’ language arts class. It’s a 75-minute class, but you don’t feel like it’s the whole 75 minutes. It’s fun.

What’s the last good movie you saw and what did you like about it?

It was called “The Eagle” — it’s like a Roman movie. I can’t remember much about it, but it was good.