Boys’ soccer hopes for another deep run in CCS after losing many seniors to graduation

The boys' soccer team attempts to have a successful season despite many graduations last year.

Coach: Chris Stott

Last year’s overall record: 11-7-2

Last year’s league record: 8-2-1

Recap: The team advanced further in CCS than ever before, making it the semifinals, but lost to Sacred Heart.

Key additions: senior center back AJ Lee, sophomore defender Coen Poelmann, sophomore defender Kyle Massie

Key matchups in the upcoming season: Milpitas, Palo Alto

Star players: senior striker Owen Keogh, junior center midfielder Joe Bruun-Jensen, senior center back AJ Lee

Key losses to graduation: Solomon Bailey, Timothy Kobara, Neil Rao

League: De Anza League

Prognosis:

After a successful season last year, the team is ready to adjust to the more difficult upper league.

Senior Owen Keogh said that the team needed more recruits during tryouts because 18 players graduated and many of the remaining players have injuries.

According to Keogh, the team currently has 17 players, and is hoping for 24 players. The tryouts were delayed because of the smoke from the Butte County fire.

Because of the lack of players, the team might be weaker, Keogh said. For example, because many midfielders were previously seniors, the team “lost a lot of strength,” according to Keogh.

With these losses, the coach’s main goal for the team this year is just to stay in their league.

According to senior Joe Bruun-Jensen, the team also plans to continue weight training after starting to lift last season.

The team has not had any practices as of Nov. 26 due to the smoke, but they have a general plan in mind once competition starts.

“Our game plan is trying to defend and not allow them to score,” Bruun-Jensen said.

Despite the loss of talent to graduation, Keogh said the team’s new players will have time to adjust to varsity soccer.

“I think at the start of the year, if we get early losses, then it will be OK,” Keogh said. “But as we move forward in the season, I think we will get better, so the younger players will be able to get more experience and keep up with what varsity soccer is like.”