Staff writer Jim Paulsen spoke with East Ridge midfielder Luke Featherstone moments after the Raptors defeated Cretin-Derham Hall on Tuesday.

First soccer memory: Playing in the backyard with my parents or playing pickup games with my buddies.

Best soccer memory: Going to nationals in Arizona last summer with my Minnesota Thunder Academy U-16 teams. We got third in the nation.

Soccer means.: Everything to me. It's what I live for. I just love playing soccer.

On taking penalty kicks: I don't get nervous. I know exactly where I'm going to go. I don't look at the goalie and I put it in the same spot every time. I practice a lot and I hit it every time.

Do you want to divulge where you always place it? It's my secret. But if you're on my team, you'll probably know.

Best advice to a new player: Be prepared and be ready to work your hardest.

Superstition: I always put on my right side on first, then my left side. I tried to do it differently a couple of times and I didn't play very well.

What part of practice makes you groan? The running and conditioning after practice. I don't like that.

It helps keep that six-pack, though. Yeah. It does. That part's OK.