(Avoca) Coach James Johnson says expectations always remain high for his program.
The Vikings boys soccer team ise coming off of what coach Johnson refers to as a down year at 4-9, but they have three key seniors ready to lead the way this season. “I expect with the talent we have that we’ll be right there fighting for wins again this year. Hayden Fischer, Raydden Grobe, and Jace Peterson are great leaders. I know everybody has heard those names in other sports and we are expecting them to lead our team.”
Raydden Grobe scored 19 of the team’s 28 goals last season. “Grobe on the offensive end is a really solid threat. He’s one of those guys that I could put him about anywhere on the field and he can make a difference. Fischer just has a motor on him. He goes and goes until you tell him to stop. I really like to see that. Peterson is a second year player along with Fischer they started late, but they’ve really made a huge difference in our program. Jace will be on the offensive end looking to get us some goals and works really hard.”
Johnson admits not having a 2020 season hindered them in 2021 because they had a young group that needed experience. Thus, the matches they were able to get in last year were very valuable. “This year we have a lot of returners that got a full season under them last year. I really hope that experience and knowing the game play will help these guys. The ones we’ve got have a lot of talent. We just don’t have very many this year. So that will be a challenge, but I hope to do the most we can with what we have.”
Coach Johnson says the guys have shown a desire to compete in practice. “They want to compete. They want to be good. That’s reassuring. There’s guys that are stepping it up that I didn’t know and I don’t think they even knew what they were capable of until we got out there and saw that.”
The Vikings oppose Grand View Christian to begin the season on Thursday, March 31st. The team’s first three matches are all at home.
AHSTW coach James Johnson:
