Aberdeen Central is loaded with motivated seniors this boys’ soccer season.
The Golden Eagles have a dozen seniors who are prepared to help the team move up the ladder after falling in the semifinals of the playoffs last year.
“We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of varsity games and not second-team games, but real varsity games,” said Central boys’ coach Lance Mohr. “I’m excited, even just going out here this first week, where these guys are at as opposed to where they were a year ago. They’ve made huge, huge strides both in the off season and going through the season last year.”
Captains for this year’s squad are seniors Derek Arunasalam, Zander Kuhfeld, Gavin Yost, and Tyler Bain.
“We have four of them this year and they’ve done a great job of setting the tone,” Mohr said.
The Golden Eagles have “sort of a chip on their shoulder,” according to Mohr after the team came up short against Sioux Falls Lincoln in the postseason last year.
“They feel like they kind of got one step further and one step further, and now last year we were 0-0 at halftime and they felt like we were right there going in, and we just gave up a couple bad goals and we fell short,” Mohr said. “And so that motivation level right there, being that close and having it taken away from you, is going to bode well in our favor, because they know that they can do it. It’s just a matter of executing now game to game.”
Central lost some valuable members to graduation, but Mohr said that younger players are ready to rise to the challenge and fill those roles this season.
“This group is unique in the sense that, we’re missing some key players from last year, but there’s some younger guys that are ready to take on some bigger roles and are handling that in a really mature way and developing,” Mohr said. “The goals are unique to this team, but the expectations are high and they’re setting them for themselves and you wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Mohr said the senior captains set the tone for the team and bring a lot to the pitch, led by fifth-year varsity member Bain.
“He’s a great leader, a great calming influence on the squad,” Mohr said. “Derek was a captain for us last year. Zander and Gavin both displayed leadership last year, but weren’t a formal captain, but were recognized by their teammates this year that they’ve got to get in the loop.”
The Golden Eagles will feature experienced and potent players all over the field, regardless of position.
“Our balance front to back is fantastic. We have dangerous players in the front. We have a really, really talented midfield, and our backline, we really like the guys,” Mohr said. “There’s some new faces back there, but there’s some new guys that bring a lot of energy … and then Zander, I’m OK calling him the best goaltender in the state and he doesn’t mind that at all. That is what he is.”
Mohr said the season will be a work in progress and said the Golden Eagles will just take things one game at a time. The plan is for the squad to keep improving all throughout the course of the season.
“Our focus is, it’s not a sprint. It feels like a sprint, but it’s a marathon, and we want to be a totally different team at our last game than we are today,” Mohr said. “Even if we think we’re good, it doesn’t mean anything until we put a result on a piece of paper.”
Central starts its season by hosting Pierre at 6 this evening. While it’s just one game of many, Mohr said the contest does have significant meaning.
“Last year we scored a late goal and beat Pierre on the road down there, and that tone carried us through the whole season,” Mohr said. “I’ve been talking to them all week about the importance of getting off to a good start, a really positive start, being the aggressor.”
Mohr said the players are ready to face someone new after weeks of going against each other in camps and practices.
“They’ve been beating on each other for three weeks,” Mohr said, “so we’re just ready to go. We’re excited to play.”
