LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — Senior Nights in high school sports are special. The Land O’ Lakes boys soccer team honored 16 of them earlier this month at John Benedetto Stadium, nicknamed “The Swamp.”

What You Need To Know

Eamon Carman is a star forward/midfielder for the Land O’Lakes High School boys soccer team

Eamon leads the team and is ranked in the top 10 statewide in goals scored

The Gators honored 16 seniors during their Senior Night game earlier this month

Shortly into the game, Eamon scored, giving him a memory he will never forget on his special night

With some eyes far from dry, forward/midfielder Eamon Carman was adamant that there would be no tears from him out there.

“I wouldn’t say it’s emotional, I mean I’m excited about it, last home game, I’m excited to just play. I’m ready to play and hopefully score goals and have some fun,” Carman said.

But once he lined up with his family on the track, the tough skin on the Gators star softened a bit.

“Now I feel a little emotional, but I’m still excited to play the game,” Carman said.

His mom, Anne Gallacher, was honest when asked if she would tear up.

“Oh yeah, I will,” Gallacher said.

This moment means a lot to him because of how much the game of soccer means to him.

“I started when I was 7 years old. It was the first sports I played when my cousin played it and got me into it, and I just wanted to play it and loved it ever since,” Carman said.

The Land O’ Lakes boys soccer team loves him as well, leading the team in goals scored with 26 entering that game.

“I want to score, I want to win games, so I come out strong and put everything I have into the game and try to put the ball in the back of the net,” Carman said.

“You know how kids are just born with a skill? He was born to put the ball in the back of the net. He just has a nose for the goal, his touch, his speed, his awareness and how he sees the game,” Land O’ Lakes boys soccer head coach Billy Jeremias said.

The Fighting Gators lost a heartbreaker in the district finals last year, which put a chip on their shoulders.

“After that loss it just hurt, so I was out training every day going to the fields over the summer just like wanting to improve myself and score goals,” Carman said.

He’s done plenty of that this season, ranking top 10 in the state of Florida and third in Class 6A with 27 goals at the point of this story being published. Carman said he was happy to be up there on that list, but it wasn’t good enough for him.

“Yeah sometimes I look at that but then I’m like ‘I want No. 1, I want to be the best player in the state best player in the nation’ so I want to get more goals,” Carman said.

So what did he do 20 minutes into the game? He did what he does best, scoring a goal to lead his team to a 4-0 win.

Hard to dream of a better senior night, playing the game that he loves.

“I couldn’t play anything else, this is the sport that I love and I’ll play it until I can’t anymore,” Carman said.

He will keep on playing into the playoffs as the Fighting Gators look to capture a state title.