Just four seniors – two starters -- were lost from last season’s Park boys soccer team, and the Wolfpack are set to take advantage of that experience this fall.
The Wolfpack return …
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Just four seniors – two starters -- were lost from last season’s Park boys soccer team, and the Wolfpack are set to take advantage of that experience this fall.
The Wolfpack return 14 varsity players and nine starters including leading scorer senior Ayub Mohamed and top defender senior and three-year starter Joey Runion. Park does have to replace its goalkeeper and one starting forward.
Top players returning include senior captain and three-year starter Noah Haupt, junior captain Tristan Lee and senior Killian Krech, Mohamed and Runion.
“We definitely try to finish in the top half of the conference, and hopefully finish in the top three in sections,” said Haupt. “Hopefully we can make a run and get to state. We’ve got to play together as a team and make sure we’re all on the same page. We’ve been playing together for a while now.”
Newcomers who should make a splash this fall include two players returning from injuries in Riley Lindgren, who missed last season with an ACL, and Cole Jacobson, out last year with a torn shoulder.
Park was 2-6-1 in the Suburban East Conference last season and 4-10-2 overall.
“Strengths are going to be we return a lot of players with experience,” said Andrew Bourgoine, now in his fourth season as head coach and 12th year with the program. “And our attack is going to be very good. Weaknesses could be the defense and keeper situation. We have two senior keepers and don’t know right now who is going to be the starter.”
Offense will definitely be a strength of this year’s team.
“Defense is brand new,” Bourgoine said. “We have two new people in our backline plus a new goal as well. Our defense is a work in progress. Our offense is ready to go. In our scrimmages on Saturday, we scored 11 goals in 100 minutes. ”
“I feel like our strength is we’re able to move the ball, possess the ball,” said Lee. “We should be able to place in the top half of the conference. We have to communicate more, get into our tackles and play as a team, and make sure our defense is not stranded back there by themselves. As midfielders we have to help them.”
“A successful season would be that we just improve from the start of season to the last,” Bourgoine added. “Some goals the team wants though is to get top half of the conference and hopefully get to the section semifinals or finals this year.
East Ridge, Woodbury and Stillwater are again expected to field strong teams in the always tough Suburban East Conference.
“I think middle of the pack is doable I think with this team being senior heavy,” Bourgoine added. “A lot of seniors and a lot of players returning, I think that’s doable. I would say a little over a .500 record would be realistic. If I’m a bit more optimistic I would say winning eight or nine games and losing only four or five.
The Wolfpack opens the season with a boy-girl doubleheader at home against Bloomington Jefferson on Thursday, Aug. 24. The girls play at 5 p.m. followed by the boys' game at 7 p.m.
