High School Season Preview: Boys' Soccer

Unprecedented success in sports can be viewed as either a blessing or a curse.  The Lexington boy's soccer team, which lost in the semifinals of last year's Division 1 state tournament semifinals, is hoping the 2009 season foretells the former.

Heading into the fall, the Minutemen will return several key players from last year's squad, which sported an impressive 15-1-3 record. The returners include the three senior captains: defender Thomas Ballenthin, midfielder Jordan Vanderhooft, and forward Kyle Petersson. 

The group is a gifted one, hungry to climb back to the top. 

Lexington coach Daniel Rudolph believes that his team's overall depth and skill across the field should put them over the top in a Middlesex League loaded with contenders. 

"We're a very balanced team," he said. "We have talent all over the field, all the way from the goaltenders to defense, midfield and attack; we're strong all over."

In what will be his sixth season as Lexington's head coach, Rudolph cites the team's success on the players under him, saying anybody who knows anything about soccer knows it's a player's game. 

Rudolph has hardworking, intelligent players which translated last year into one of the most successful seasons in school history, and will hopefully overlap into 2010.

"I've been blessed to be able to work with kids who love playing soccer after school every day," he said. "We have players who are dedicated; they play year-round on club teams and in various leagues.  The kids who don't play club tend to play lacrosse or track, so we have great athletes, great soccer players and we have a great coaching staff here."

Rudolph also credits the town of Lexington as being a hotbed for able talent.  It's a place with a history of players who have used their pedigree to flourish at the collegiate level.

"Basically, the thing about Lexington is there's some serious talent in this town," he said. "We have kids from previous years playing in Division I schools, starring at Division III schools, playing in other various leagues.  It's a great soccer town and there's a lot of talent."

From top to bottom, this year's squad looks to have the taste of last season's disappointment on the tip of their tongues – anything less than a state championship will be seen as a failure.

This is the cost of unprecedented success, and Lexington is ready.

LEXINGTON BOYS' SOCCER

Coach: Dan Rudolph (sixth season)

League: Middlesex League

Last Year: 18-1-3 (Won Division 1 North title; lost in D-1 state semifinals)

Returning Players: Three senior captains: Defenseman Thomas Ballenthin, midfielder Jordan Vanderhooft, and forward Kyle Petersson. Seniors Dean Magauran, Andrew Navia, Ryan Woodhouse, and Chris Batty. 

Key to Success: With most of his key players returning off one of the most successful seasons in Lexington boy's soccer history, Rudolph believes his team needs to keep doing what they've been doing.  "If it ain't broke don't fix it," he said.

Game to Watch: "Our league, you never know who's going to be good," Rudolph said. "You can really never underestimate any of our league's teams, but Reading is becoming a perennial powerhouse."

Coach's Take: "We did a lot of things correctly last year. In the end we fell short and it was a tough loss, but we learned and we're better for it.  I think we're in a position this season with the talent we have to have another really good season."