FAIRHOPE — Steven Pearson, goalkeeper for the Fairhope High School varsity soccer team and co-captain of the team, broke his leg during the third game this season; an event his teammates found devastating. When asked how it affected their play, the team responded with a collective groan followed by expressions of disappointment.

“It sucks,” said Pearson.

“Yeah, it’s a tough blow,” said one player.

“He’s our No. 1 player,” another player said sullenly.

“He’s not just No. 1 on our team, he’s No. 1 in the whole state,” yelled one student; others joined in.

The players continued to express their disappointment, some explaining how difficult it was to adjust to his absence.

Despite the blow to the team’s morale, their current record is 18-5 overall, and they are Section 2 Class 6A champions for the second consecutive year. These young men are not just good athletes, they are bright, committed students. In fact, the teams combined grade point average is well over 3.5, according to Bob Keyser, junior varsity coach.

Coach Keyser is serving as the varsity soccer team’s interim coach while Paul Stroud, their regular coach, is away on military assignment with the United States National Guard. Stroud served in Iraq throughout 2004 and 2005, and currently serves as operations officer for the 711th Signal Battalion out of Mobile.

In addition to great playing and strong academic commitment, there is one other thing that sets this team apart. Out of the 25 players on the team, eight have a sibling playing alongside them. Yes, you read that right. There are four sets of brothers playing on the same team.

Although highly unusual, it is hardly noticed by the players, said Keyser. They have all pretty much known each other since childhood. The players say it just adds to the sense of comradery.

Keyser is father to one of the pairs playing on the team. His son Brian, a senior, is co-captain of the team alongside Pearson. Brian’s younger brother, Michael, is a freshman.

“It’s great. We have a lot of talent on this team,” said Brian, “and we all connect very well. We play together better than most teams. I guess we’re used to each other, we’ve been around each other for so long.”

In addition to Brian and Michael, sibling sets include David Anderson, a senior, and his younger brother, Kevin, a junior; Drew Dolan, a senior, and his younger brother, Chad, a freshman; and Adam Haywood, a senior, and his younger brother, Nathan, a sophomore.

The Haywood and Anderson brothers serve as defenders on the team. The Keysers are midfielders, and the Dolans serve as midfielders and forwards. Although the brothers don’t always have the opportunity to be on the field at the same time, all eight did start together in a game against Citronelle on April 10. Three of the boys, Drew, Brian and Mike, scored in that game — a fact that is quite remarkable if you consider the game lasted only 18 minutes; it had to be cut short because of a lightning storm.

“Having brothers on the team helps in building team unity,” said Coach Keyser. “There is less division among the grades on this team than would be found on other teams.”

Keyser said most teams have a class system, which can cause division.

“The freshman are usually ridden pretty hard, the sophomores a little less so, and the seniors are on top.”

This is not the case with this unique team, and Coach Keyser attributes this to the brothers all playing together. The friendships and relationships formed tend to blur stereotypical boundaries.

Stewart Garner does not have a sibling playing on the team, but he values the comradery with his teammates.

“We are all brothers here,” said Stewart.

For more information about the team, visit www.piratesoccer.com.