By Chris Parker
Laquey soccer returns eight starters including all three captains from last season’s team that finished 6-18 overall.
“We have high expectations when it comes to leadership,” Laquey head coach Aaron Thier said. “I have a large group of upperclassmen that have been with the program since they were freshmen. We encourage a player-led team and expect them all to lead in what is expected of them to be a member of the Hornet soccer program. We return all three captains from last year’s squad and it is important that they guide the ship.”
Rhyder Martin (senior defender), Landon Dennis (senior midfield) and Gavin Shaw (senior forward) are those three captains. Martin was a second-team all-state honoree.
Sophomore Braelyn Walters joins Shaw at forward.
The midfield will also feature Kayden Hendrix and Trae Benavides along with Dennis.
Martin, Taylor Bryant (senior), Kole Storie (senior), Zane Marlin (sophomore) and Evan Sherrer (junior) will be defenders.
Marlin stepped up his training in the offseason.
“Zane Marlin has made great strides in the offseason,” Thier said. “It is evident he spent time in the weightroom getting stronger and faster. He has a bit to learn still when it comes to his role, however, he has shown great promise this summer.”
Some freshmen could also make a varsity impact.
“We have also had a really encouraging group of freshmen that have been at summer contact days that we are hopeful will make an impact this season,” Thier said.
Overall, the team will go as the senior class goes.
“The strength of this team should be experience,” Thier said. “We have 12 seniors that have been with me now for going into their fourth season, so we are not dealing with expectations. There is an understanding of what we need to do to accomplish our goals. This group has experienced success and failures and has grown a lot over the years. We hope to lean on that experience to find success this season, and to grow the future players of our program.”
Thier is looking for a stronger defense this season after the team yielded 4.3 goals per game, which was the most since 2009 when MSHSAA started keeping records online.
“We will need to improve defensively this season,” Thier said. “We were giving up far too many goals per game last season. We were finding ways to score, but that does not matter when we were giving up almost (four) goals a game. We will need to improve in team discipline and buy in. Commitment to the plan as a team should improve the above goal.”
Laquey opens the regular season on Sept. 2 at home against Crocker.
“The boys are very excited this season and have been putting in good work over the summer,” Thier said. “They want to get back to their winning ways. They were disappointed with the results of last season, and there is a plan to get back to and compete for a district championship.”
