It may have happened many months ago, but the memories are still front and center for members of the Aberdeen Central boys’ soccer squad.
Last year ended in the worst possible way for the Golden Eagles, falling on a last-second goal in overtime in a home playoff contest.
“Right, wrong or indifferent, these kids have been carrying that for 8-9 months now,” said Central coach Lance Mohr, “and I can tell, especially now that we have the team formed, there’s a little bit of a different attitude and intensity.”
The Eagles lost some quality players to graduation, but still have familiar names on the pitch like Sekou Gogue, Gabe Johnson, Camden Fauth, Jordan Grieben, Isaac Stockert and Parker Helwig.
“We have some kids that have been around the sun a couple of times now,” Mohr said, “and it’s going to carry us when times get tough, ultimately.”
Mohr said the upperclassmen will be joined by some talented up and coming players.
“Now you blend them in with some guys that have had three or four years, Sekou has had four years of varsity experience, and so once you blend that in, it brings those kids now that have improved their soccer and physical capabilities,” Mohr said, “now all of a sudden they get this experience boost from playing with guys like that.”
The Eagles will soon find out where they’re at with three games in five days to start the season. The squad hosts Spearfish today, Douglas-Rapid City Christian-New Underwood on Saturday, and Sioux Falls Jefferson on Tuesday.
“I think we’re going to really see after that first game or two when we get a real good physical varsity test kind of what our strengths are,” Mohr said. “I’m mainly looking for it when we’re tired. What do we do really well as soon as we don’t feel quite right? Out here (in practice) we can replicate it and get them tired, but once they get another big, physical team beating on them, what are we going to revert to? And try to really fine tune it from there.”
Mohr knows that his players are motivated to get back to the playoffs and erase the bad memories of last season. However, he said he kind of leaves the season goals up to them.
“We’re going to kind of gauge them. What do they think they’re capable of? And then as a coaching staff how do we make sure that they can get and meet those goals? That’s really what we’re trying to blend,” Mohr said. “Expectations are a big thing and it’s our job as a coaching staff to help them fulfill it.”
Mohr took over the coaching reigns a few weeks into the season last year. This will mark his first full year as head coach of the Eagles.
While the players are ready to get going, so is their coach.
“I’m just really excited to have this particular team in my first full go-round with it. It’s a talented team,” Mohr said. “It’s a group of good kids, so when you blend all those things together, it just makes it fun to be out here every day.”
