Our friends at the Columbia Tribune are getting an early start on the boys high school season. We are one week from the start of practice so how about some Central Missouri soccer intrigue.
5. Hickman’s title drought: The Kewpies haven’t hoisted the district championship plaque since 2001 and have lost in the championship game the past three years. Hickman came close in 2003 and 2005 with 1-0 losses to Jefferson City, but its offense could never find the one chance it needed. Hickman returns goalkeeper Brent Tegerdine and dangerous attackers Blaise Parker and Evan Camden, who all have playoff experience. In 2004, Rock Bridge ended a four-year title drought with a 3-0 win over the Kewpies. Could 2006 be the same for Hickman?
4. Rock Bridge revival: Last season was a learning experience for the Bruins. After a record-setting 2004 campaign that saw the Bruins go 21-2-2 and win the Class 3 District 10 title, the Bruins struggled to an 11-13 finish last season in Coach Kirby Keth’s first year.
Scoring goals was a difficult task last season, and that has been a point of emphasis over the off-season for Keth. A more consistent effort in front of the net could see the Bruins return to their winning ways.
3. The new fields: For the first time, Hickman and Rock Bridge will have true home fields. No longer will fans have to sit on the hillside at Cosmo Park. FieldTurf has been installed at both high schools and will serve as the playing service for the soccer teams.
Making the switch from grass to an artificial surface doesn’t worry the coaches, but how it affects the players and games remains to be seen.
Hickman’s field will be 120 x 68 yards – the maximum field length and 3 yards wider than the minimum. The dimensions at Rock Bridge are 120 x 69 yards.
2. Jefferson City repeat: After a one-year hiatus in 2004, the Jays returned to the top of the district last season. Now Jefferson City, which went 18-6-3 last season, takes aim at its fourth district title in five years.
After waiting since 1998 to win its 2002 title, the Jays have put on a postseason clinic during their championship runs. The Jays have accomplished their feat with a stifling defense and the ability to grind out close wins. In 27 games last season, the Jays scored 32 goals but allowed only 14 while compiling 15 shutouts.
1. Jon Strodtman’s health: As much as he doesn’t like to talk about, the health of the Hickman Coach is always a topic of discussion.
Strodtman continues his battle with a rare form of intestinal cancer and has found the ability to coach both the boys and girls teams at Hickman and make occasional trips to Houston for treatment. Strodtman is coming off an emotional season with the girls team that saw it win the Class 2 District 10 title but also deal with heartbreak when the mother of freshman Michelle Lowery died late in the season.
So far, soccer has seemed the best medicine for Strodtman, and while there are patches of lethargy and weariness from the treatment, he has shown no signs of slowing down. Expect an energized Strodtman to be taking in the action from the Kewpies bench all season long.
