Does experience matter? Hansen, Generals will find out

  • By Brian Questel
  • August 25, 2010
  • 253
                        
083010 boyssoccer preview promo: For General boys, experience matters Does experience matter? Hansen, Generals will find out By Brian Questel Even before the first official practice, one thing was etched in stone for Wooster boy’s soccer coach Brian Hansen – the 2010 edition of the Wooster High boy’s soccer team was going to evolve around its seniors. “They’re very key,” said Hansen of the 13 seniors on his team, which is looking to rebound from a 7-9-1 campaign and a fourth-place, 6-4 finish in the Ohio Cardinal Conference. “We have 11 seniors who are returning lettermen and six or seven of them will start, depending on the game. They’re important to us … they are all going to see quality time and I’ll be trying to rotate everyone in and out.” Hansen is looking to build on last year’s learning experience to help tilt the scales in the Generals’ direction this season. “Even if they didn’t get a lot of minutes, they got a lot of varsity time whether in practice or on the game field,” said Hansen, who is entering his eighth season. “I think we’re going to be very skilled in most positions and our weakness is going to be our ability to keep our focus for the entire 80 minutes. “We have the talent to keep up with just about anybody and hopefully our experience will pay off in playing 80 minutes. Even if we only have two minutes of shut-off time, you can find yourself down 2-0. If we stay focused the entire 80 minutes, we can play with most teams.” Wooster’s experience should allow it to switch players throughout its lineup, which can be critical in dealing with situations that arise in different games. “I think guys can play multiple positions,” said Hansen. “If we need to switch to a three-man front we can; if we move to a one-man (front) we can do that as well. If we’re up a goal we can pack the box and hang on. We can do things a variety of ways to push people position-wise.” Senior Costa Nicolozakes will step in at goalie this season in that all-important spot, returning to that spot after being on the field last season. “He came in as a freshman keeper, but we had an abundance of keepers so he moved to the field,” said Hansen. “With the injury bug, I want him to go back.” Hansen will see seniors, as well as key veteran underclassmen, in key spots throughout the lineup as well. “We have a pair of seniors, Brett Breneman and Levi Shamp, who will anchor the defense,” said Hansen. “Up the middle we will have David O’Donnell, a junior, and Weston Welker. They will be our quarterbacks up the middle – they will be the catalyst of our offense and defense. They are our playmakers and our link between our offense and defense.” Up front, senior Todd Sheron and junior Drew King-Smith will be critical in the Generals’ attack, with senior Jordan Cremer figuring into those plans as well as either a forward or halfback. His twin, Marcus, will start in back. “I like the utility aspect” of what the Cremers bring, noted Hansen. Senior Conor Miko will play forward or halfback as well – “He can give us that 3-man front,” noted Hansen – while junior Charles Moodispaw can “play halfback or defense if needed.” As Hansen pointed out, that experience will need to show its face early, “especially with our non-league schedule.” “We scheduled some tough opponents to get prepared for the state tournament,” said Hansen. “I can’t see any reason we can’t compete for the OCC and hopefully we can knock off a big non-league opponent like a Wadsworth or a Highland.”


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