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BHS soccer up for improvement in 2015

Coach: expectations are 'higher than ever'

Nothing's ever come easy for this program.

And in that vein, nothing will change in 2015. Coach Dave Foster and his Wolverines know this.

But despite graduation's springtime ravaging of the roster, another player's expected exit back to his overseas home, and an unexpected offseason loss of an expected standout, enthusiasm about Bayfield boys' soccer has only multiplied with the season-opener set for 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1.

"I believe that the boys' expectations are higher than ever," said the third-year coach. "The culture before, here, has been kind of more about just coming out to varsity-letter; right now it's a culture shift for us, and it's more about coming out and really concentrating on winning some games."

Foster assistants Jennifer Zelinski and Josh Kitchen were distributing gear Monday evening after practice.

"Our technical skill's improving, but now it's more about applying that in more tactical ways on the pitch," he said. "We know that defense wins games and we need to make sure we don't give up many goals. But if we do, let's just make sure we score more than the other team!"

"We're good enough to get results-last year we were in so many games, and it was just one goal that changed the whole game!" he continued. "Unfortunately I haven't really had the best record, so my own personal goal is to try to get some of those; getting a result is important not only for myself, but for the psyche of the team."

And there will be plenty of opportunities on BHS' plate this fall.

The boys start with a non-league trip to face the Durango JV crew.

Bayfield's next four opponents all face the prospect of visiting Wolverine Country Stadium, beginning with Montezuma-Cortez at 3 p.m. on Sept. 4 to start 3A Southwestern play. Expect the Panthers-just 4-9 overall, 3-9 SWL last season-to be just as hungry to finish an outing. M-CHS had six SWL games decided by one goal or less in '14 and went 0-6 in those battles.

Class 3A state tournament qualifiers Telluride, stunned in the bracket's initial Round-of-32, come to the Pine River Valley next on Sept. 12 for an 11 a.m. start.

Area rivals Pagosa Springs, at 4 p.m. on the Sept. 15, are up next on BHS' 15-match schedule, and the Wolverines then welcome on the 18th a total unknown in Tri-Peaks League (East Division) members Rye.

The Wolverines will then immediately hit the road to test powerful Crested Butte the next afternoon. The top 'RV' team in the preseason rankings, the Titans also went 11-1 in the SWL last season but finished 13-3 overall after picking up a state tournament win over Manitou Springs and then a 'Sweet 16' loss courtesy Salida.

"We're pleased," Foster said of his team's tough schedule, which won't take pity on them after a 1-13 (1-11 SWL) record in 2014. "We lost Center-they're not in our league anymore-so we.picked up Durango JV, picked up Rye.it's good to play some teams out of our conference.because you want to build that confidence."

"And we have our hands full; I have 15 JV games on the schedule too!" he noted. "And that's really huge for us; to not only have a JV team.to have 15 games is only going to improve the program, help build those younger players and give them the opportunity."

"I told the boys they're all fighting for starting positions. I think I have 26 on the roster right now, and so that's a healthy competition. My seniors coming back-Sam Kundrik, Isaac Baca, Chandler Jackson and Kaden Taulli-I told those boys that it's open.just because you played last year doesn't mean that you're going to be playing this year. I think they all know that it's good to be pushed."

Which could make for a good by-committee effort on the field, particularly towards replacing departed foreign-exchange student, Viktor Sandvik and now-transferred Grant Pierce, in addition to goalie Ben Young and defenders Michael Voss and Bailey Ludwig.

"Grant.moved to Salt Lake City (Utah), and that's a big loss for us. And obviously Viktor was a big loss," Foster conceded. "But we're still looking at Colton (Fine).and Finlay (Marshall) will be our captain-I've already named him-and he's going to be my center-midfield. Lot of knowledge about the game, he plays a lot and watches a lot, so he'll be kind of 'orchestrating.'"

"Chris Mooney, who is a sophomore this year, will probably be the starting sweeper in the back, kind of in charge of leadership. He played club (for Durango Youth Soccer Association), played on a pretty competitive DYSA team that traveled up to Denver, so he has a lot of experience under his belt."

"The goalie situation is still.open," he said with a humorously-hesitant laugh. "I have one player right now who's looking good.Chad Winkler.standing out a bit more than other players but it's still wide-open. No experience though, so Kitchen is helping.and the past three, four weeks he's shown a lot of improvement."

"I have a young team.so I really am pumped. And the boys are pumped; it's infectious right now. We're all positive and optimistic.that's the key! The boys want to come out and they're working their butts off!"