11/29/2009 10:23:00 PM Winter Season Prep Previews: Prescott High, Bradshaw Mountain boys soccer teams
set sights on state tournament
Bradshaw Mountain boys soccer players compete in a recent scrimmage at BMHS. The Bears went to the Class 4A, Division II state tournament in 2006 and 2008, but missed the cut last season.
Les Stukenberg/The Daily Courier
The Prescott High boys soccer team qualified for the Class 4A, Division I state tournament each of the past three years.
The Bradshaw Mountain boys soccer team made the 4A, D-II state tourney in 2005-06 and 2007-08. So the Bears are due for another appearance this season.
If they both make it this year, Prescott and Bradshaw Mountain will do so in the same bracket with both now in the 4A, D-I classification. That adds a little bit of extra incentive when the two schools meet at Prescott on Dec. 8.
Last year the Badgers beat the Bears 3-2 at BMHS and finished 12-5-1. The narrow loss was one of many for the Bears as they ended well below .500.
Here is what each team has heading into 2009-10:
Prescott
The Badgers have a small group of returning players from the Western Sky Region champion team. But new coach Joe Valdez is very familiar with the varsity team, having coached most of them the past two years at the junior varsity level.
"We had 13 seniors graduate last year so we've basically got a young group," Valdez said. "Not a whole lot of experience but a lot of good, physical players. So we've got a little challenge to try and put them together and try to get them to calm down and play soccer."
Among the 13 graduated seniors were Willie Hammack (16 goals and five assists last year) and Zechariac Olsen (12 goals and six assists).
Colin Howell, a forward, and Carey Allen, an offensive midfielder, assume the roles of captains.
"Both of those two we're depending on to calm the team down," Valdez said, "leading them in the right direction and just keeping them composed during the game because they can't hear the coaches all the time. When the game starts, it's up to them to make the plays."
Valdez also said junior goalkeeper Garan Dietrich will be very strong. With Howell, Allen and Frank Martin, he hopes they should be able to score on others as well.
"The main thing is to have an aggressive team, a positive team and not get down," Valdez said.
Bradshaw Mountain
In his fourth year coaching, Philip Reid is looking for a second trip to state with the Bears. But he's thinking in more general terms at the start of the season.
"A lot better soccer," Reid said of what he hopes to see. "This is our fourth year and most of the guys are returners from last year. So we have a lot of experience coming into this year. I'm looking for quality soccer this season."
Jesus Escalera, Victor Roman and Aldo Tinoco are among the leading returners. And Reid mentioned freshman Diego Vasquez as a newcomer who could factor in.
"He should be a handful for other teams," Reid said of Vasquez.
He said they have a lot of speed and awareness of their teammates. He's just hoping that will translate into goals and wins.
"What we need to work on more this year is closing games out," Reid said. "When you have a team and you're up and not conceding goals in the latter part of the game and just really finishing games. Last year we missed the state tournament because of that. We were leading teams 2-0, 3-0 and they came back in the last 20 minutes and scored."
Escalera, a senior captain, added, "We envision ourselves going to state."
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
Natural athlete
Sorry What? I am so passionate about this topic that I commented under the wrong article.
From what I understand three are a lot of boys
signed up on the preseason sign up sheet. I heard an area coach speak couple time about how a week and a half into practice the numbers dwindle. The boys lack of intention can be brutal at times.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Never fear - those guys are long gone....
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009
Article comment by:
What?
Uh, Mr. Natural: this is a SOCCER story. And besides there is absolutely no place for cowards, shirkers and wanna-be's in any sport much less wrestling.
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009
Article comment by:
Natural athlete
I have three nephews that are not natural ahtletes. One is afraid of losing, another shirks the hardwork necessary in a difficult sport like wrestling and the third is content to just hang around the teams and be a wannabe. It's a shame these fine boys weren't approached to wrestle. I understand that wrestling tests one's metal like no other sport and prepares them for their foes now and later in life. I know wrestling in tough, but these guys could be tough too.
