He knows the game without playing it

“It’s confusing to me that he knows this much about soccer and never played,’’ said Sam Bennett, one of his former players who is a now a freshman at Wheaton College in Norton. “It seems weird that he would love to coach even though he never played.’’

The 33-year-old, a special education teacher at his alma mater the last seven years, knows how to get the most out of his players.

In addition to the two sectional titles, 10 of his former Wildcats are now playing at the collegiate level.

From the class of 2008: Alex Murphy (Stonehill), Jess Stuart (Wheaton), Jackie Moscardelli (Springfield College), and twins Megan and Melissa Dempsey (Keene State). In addition to Bennett, Kim Clooney (Framingham State), Jenna Goodwin (UMass-Amherst), Erica Donnelly (Westfield State College), and Kristen Darling (Roger Williams) are suiting up as freshmen. Also, Jenn Bell and Kayla Sullivan earned track scholarships at Providence and New Hampshire, respectively.

“It’s an absurd number,’’ said MacIntyre, counting his blessings. “I hope going forward every year I can send a couple [players to college]. It’s a big thing, it doesn’t happen that often.’’

With only three seniors on this year’s squad, the Wildcats (2-1-1) have adjusted nicely to the departure of top-tier talent.

“Even if people are new they know the expectations so everyone is stepping up,’’ said four-year starter Vicky DiNatale after a 2-1 victory against Newton North on Monday. “Even though we lost a lot we gained a lot. It helps that we have something to live up to. We don’t want to be the first team to lose a South Sec tional. Everyone wants to work hard and bring that third South Sectional in.’’

Encouragement is nearby.

MacIntyre has already taken his team to watch UMass, Wheaton College, Springfield College, Framingham State, and Westfield State and plans to see each of his former players at least once this fall.

“They continue to support us and be involved in our program so we make it a point to go out and see them,’’ MacIntyre said. “I honestly think it means as much to the kids in college as the kids on the team that this program wins.’’

Weymouth is a traditional boys’ soccer power: the girls’ team did not win a South Sectional title until MacIntyre arrived.

“It was great to make our mark and prove to our peers and our parents and our coaches we could do it,’’ said Moscardelli, who has scored one goal through six games for Springfield College this season.

“Every hour we put into practice, every skill taught to us helped. We were going to make a name for ourselves and prove we were the team to beat that year, both years actually.’’

In addition to changing the team’s formation in the midfield - from four across to a triangle formation - upon his arrival, MacIntyre focused his attention on kicking up the attitude toward training and team unity.

“Coach Mac doesn’t accept us not working hard,’’ said Maddie Manning, a junior midfielder who scored five goals with six assists last season. “He says the only thing we can change is our work rate. When you’re on the line and you don’t feel like running you look to the girl to your left and right and work for her.

“That’s what we’ve been doing the last couple years and it’s paid off.’’

Creating a family environment wasn’t difficult: a number of the players had played together since the fourth grade. Bennett picked up competitive soccer late, but made up for lost time when she started playing for MacIntyre in sixth grade.

She now talks to her old coach on the phone more than her parents.

“They understand,’’ she said. “He’s my neighbor too, he’s close to my family. I’m not going to ask my mom ‘I didn’t play in today’s game, what should I do?’ She’ll be like ‘it’s all right.’ I’d rather go to him for that.

“The best advice he’s given me is to be confident in my ability, even when I’m unsure, I need to be confident and work hard. Things coaches usually say, he’s just good at it.’’

In high school, MacIntyre and Don Whitaker, a friend on the baseball team, wanted to coach Little League baseball but were told they were too young. A friend of MacIntyre’s mother suggested the boys learn the ropes of coaching with the Weymouth youth soccer program until they were old enough to jump to Little League.

“You know what, we never went back,’’ said MacIntyre, who also coaches with Whitaker at the South Coast Scorpions Soccer Club.

At Northeastern, MacIntyre joined an indoor league with his buddies but has not played much since.

“I’ve played enough games to understand,’’ he said. “In the big realm of things I’m definitely one of a few coaches who hasn’t played thousands of soccer games.

“I’ve spent so many hours on the soccer field I feel like I think like they do anyway.’’

Initially MacIntyre struggled to grasp the X’s and O’s, but former Weymouth boys’ coach Steve Shoff eventually took McIntyre under his wing.

“I attribute everything I’ve done to him,’’ said MacIntyre, who coached the JV girls at Weymouth for three years before taking over the varsity.

“He still comes to games and still always says ‘You should’ve done this or should think about this.’ ’’