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Who’s in goal?
That’s the big question Rolla High School boys’ soccer head coach Mike Howard has yet to answer so far in Bulldog practice.
The Bulldogs began practice sessions on Monday, although the times of the practices were moved from the afternoons to the mornings Monday through Wednesday due to the excessive heat. Today the practice time is supposed to be moved back to 4-6 p.m. at the Rolla Middle School soccer field.
Howard has 42 players in camp and said he plans to keep around 34 or 35 on the roster. He said final cuts could be made tonight.
“Things have been going well,” said Howard, who is entering his 20th season as RHS coach. “At least as good as tryouts can go. We’ve got a quality group of freshmen and our seniors are good leaders. We hope that makes for an exciting season.”
The Bulldogs are coming off a 12-8-2 campaign in 2009 during which they advanced to the district tournament title game, where they lost to Camdenton 1-0 in two overtimes.
However, there were big losses to graduation from that squad including Cody Martin, Kyle Keebey, Blayne Shockley, Chris Sanders, Matt Beasley, Nathan Fraley, Joel Laney and starting keeper Daniel McCadden.
Replacing McCadden, who had a 1.47 goals-against average and 4.5 shutouts last fall, will be the No. 1 priority during the preseason.
“I think we had a good month of June (in off-season workouts); I like the look of this team,” Howard said. “The big question is who will be in goal?
“We’re very athletic and we do have good team speed. And we have a bunch of kids who have played a lot of soccer in all of the classes. We have a good blend of youth and experience.”
Among players with varsity starting experience back include senior forward Kory Carter, senior midfielders Jason Howard and David Drewniak, sophomore midfielder Michael Janke and junior defender Miles Wilson.
Jason Howard is the top scorer back for RHS, with nine goals and four assists in 2009 while Carter had seven goals and four assists.
“We had a lot of injuries last year, so a lot of these kids have played a lot of varsity for us,” Mike Howard said.
Although there is not a dominating goal-scorer in the mix, Mike Howard feels there is plenty of offense.
“We have three or four kids who can put the ball in the back of the net,” Coach Howard said. “Definitely I think we have the kids who can score for us. Our problem going in is keeping the opponent from scoring.”
Who’s in goal?
That’s the big question Rolla High School boys’ soccer head coach Mike Howard has yet to answer so far in Bulldog practice.
The Bulldogs began practice sessions on Monday, although the times of the practices were moved from the afternoons to the mornings Monday through Wednesday due to the excessive heat. Today the practice time is supposed to be moved back to 4-6 p.m. at the Rolla Middle School soccer field.
Howard has 42 players in camp and said he plans to keep around 34 or 35 on the roster. He said final cuts could be made tonight.
“Things have been going well,” said Howard, who is entering his 20th season as RHS coach. “At least as good as tryouts can go. We’ve got a quality group of freshmen and our seniors are good leaders. We hope that makes for an exciting season.”
The Bulldogs are coming off a 12-8-2 campaign in 2009 during which they advanced to the district tournament title game, where they lost to Camdenton 1-0 in two overtimes.
However, there were big losses to graduation from that squad including Cody Martin, Kyle Keebey, Blayne Shockley, Chris Sanders, Matt Beasley, Nathan Fraley, Joel Laney and starting keeper Daniel McCadden.
Replacing McCadden, who had a 1.47 goals-against average and 4.5 shutouts last fall, will be the No. 1 priority during the preseason.
“I think we had a good month of June (in off-season workouts); I like the look of this team,” Howard said. “The big question is who will be in goal?
“We’re very athletic and we do have good team speed. And we have a bunch of kids who have played a lot of soccer in all of the classes. We have a good blend of youth and experience.”
Among players with varsity starting experience back include senior forward Kory Carter, senior midfielders Jason Howard and David Drewniak, sophomore midfielder Michael Janke and junior defender Miles Wilson.
Jason Howard is the top scorer back for RHS, with nine goals and four assists in 2009 while Carter had seven goals and four assists.
“We had a lot of injuries last year, so a lot of these kids have played a lot of varsity for us,” Mike Howard said.
Although there is not a dominating goal-scorer in the mix, Mike Howard feels there is plenty of offense.
“We have three or four kids who can put the ball in the back of the net,” Coach Howard said. “Definitely I think we have the kids who can score for us. Our problem going in is keeping the opponent from scoring.”
BULLDOG NOTES: After teaching at the Rolla Junior High School the past 16 years Howard is moving to Mark Twain Elementary School for this school year. He will be teaching physical education there.
On Saturday Howard has scheduled a controlled scrimmage at 9 a.m., although he is not yet sure where the scrimmage will be held. “It’ll probably be at the (Rolla Community) Track, but that could change,” Howard said.
The Bulldogs’ annual Maroon/White Scrimmage is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28, although a time has not yet been determined. There will be a barbecue for the players and their families following.
