Council Rock North gets off to a slow start
In the scholastic sports world, the joy of last year’s success does not guarantee a similar euphoria for the coming campaign. Graduation, injury, and other commitments can deplete the available experienced talent and leave a team in a classic rebuilding mode.
No one knows this reality better than the Council Rock North boys soccer team. Last season, the Indian booters made it all the way to the state semifinals before losing a heartbreaker to Conestoga on penalty kicks. The Rock, under former coach Wendell Beres, fought gallantly for 120 minutes only to end up in a 1-1 deadlock. They were outshoot 4-1 in the penalty kicks.
This year, new coach goe Stackhouse’s charges face a different challenge, Eleven of last season’s veteran players graduated. In addition, the striking force was depleted when rising seniors Alec Neumann and Billy McConnell opted to play academy soccer. McConnell helped anchor the Indians defense during their 2011 state run while Neumann scored the Rock’s only two goals against Conestoga. Replacing such athletic productivity is not easy.
Matt Moller, who assumes the all-important goaltending duties for the graduating Will Terry, recognizes the task awaiting this year’s version of CR North soccer. As a first-year starter, he wants a state playoff experience.
“I want to get back to the playoffs. Obviously with Will (Terry) in there, I didn’t get a chance so I want to play in states. We know it’s not going to be easy but if we put in the effort and work as a team, we can reach the playoffs. There’s only two or three guys on the team that played a lot of varsity last year. We’re all pretty new.”
Matt feels a real positive in the Rock’s revamping is their team chemistry.
“We’re not the biggest team but if we fight and if we hustle and beat our men to the ball, we can go far. We’re a young team but a lot of these guys played on a CRUSA team together. We all like each other. We go to Applebees before most of the games and we hang out together.”
The Indians’ lack of experience manifested itself in the season opener against Wissahickon. Most of the game action played out on North’s side of the field and lead to the Trojans 2-0 victory. The Rock managed only four shots at the enemy net.
Coach Stackhouse was honest and direct in his postgame comments to the team. According to Matt, the coach told them, “We’re not good enough to be lazy. We were walking around. We have to really work. We don’t have enough shooters to rip shots at the net. We’re going to be a totally garbage team to counterattack and get the sloppy goals.”
Matt extended the evaluation, adding the areas that needed addressing. “If we are going to do well, we really need to hustle, win every 50-50 ball and finish off our opportunities because we’re not going to get a lot.”
When the enemy launches their own offensive assault, North appears to be in good stead with Matt between the pipes. Matt honed his goaltending skills playing for CRUSA and then the vMS program. He admits that learning his trade required some adjustments.
“In middle school, I played striker until eighth grade but in the intramural league, I was put in goal in fourth grade. The toughest part to pick up in soccer was probably the speed of the game and being able to keep focused in the goal. Sometimes, there’s not a lot of action and sometimes you get four shots in a row. vou have to stay in the game and pay attention.”
The goalie also needs to know when to be aggressive. “vou’ve got to stay on your toes and explode to the ball and not play on your heels and wait for the ball to come to you.”
Matt has learned that staying alert also includes handling adversity. “If the other team scores, I try to shake it off, figure out what I did wrong and get the next one. vou can’t think about the goal because you might get another shot on you.”
Matt’s athletic maturity
also helps him define the areas he needs to polish. “I need to improve on the corner kicks and getting out and catching them. I also need to work on making saves and getting the ball to the sidelines and not allowing a rebound in front of the goal.”
They
may
be
relative newcomers but with stability coming from players such as Matt, the Indians should eventually make their mark in the highly competitive SOL National Division.