Sports Preview: Lakeville North Boy’s Soccer Working Toward Another Special Season

Last year, after losing a number of seniors, the boy’s soccer squad shocked the Minnesota high-school soccer community by making a late run at the state championship after having what seemed to be only an average regular season. They made their way to the state semifinals before falling to undefeated Apple Valley, and eventually landed fourth place in the tourney. This year, with seven of last year’s 11 starters returning, the Panthers are looking to make this year even more special.

“We have a lot of experience,” Senior Captain and Goalkeeper Connor Revsbeck said. “We are returning a lot of good players in crucial roles on the field.”

The squad’s attitude changed during last season’s late run. After the last game, the returning players immediately started showing a renewed confidence in themselves and each other, according to Head Coach Pete Tyma. They started setting goals and training schedules to prepare for Aug. 15, the start of the fall season.

Players, including Revsbeck, participated in camps during the spring and summer and played on summer teams. A number of players also participated in the offseason strength training program at North, and the team also worked hard during captain’s practices to improve their overall fitness.

And the offseason work paid off. Now, as their season begins, the group comes into team tryouts impressing the coaching staff.

“We are really excited to see what the guys have to offer,” Tyma said. “They seem to be in great shape and ready to work.”

Most of the returning starters are midfielders and forwards, making these two areas the team’s biggest strengths. The defense will be a question mark for the Panthers, with only one starter—senior captain Colten Anderson—returning. But the team feels they have enough talent to make another serious run at a state championship as long as they can stay healthy and not become complacent with where they ended last year.

“The kids may think that they have done it before and don’t need to do it again,” Tyma said. “It’s one of the only issues I can see happening, and I’m not seeing it yet.”

So far, the team’s four captains have kept the team focused on improving on last year’s performance. Team bonding activities and helping players find their role on the squad are some of the things that the captains have been concentrating on while coming into the first practice of the season.

“As a captain I want to keep the team tight as a group,” Anderson said. “Because when two people are having an argument it shows on the field.”

Tryouts will happen during the first week of practices starting August 15, where players will be evaluated and placed on their respective teams. With 70 players showing up on the first day, no cuts will need to be made, according to Tyma.

During their first tryout, the team worked on conditioning, ball handling and team drills. Small seven versus seven games also gave numerous players the opportunity to touch the ball and work on their skills.

Ball handling, goalkeeping and smart play will be needed this year as the team looks forward to a successful season. With a good number of talented starters returning from a team that took fourth place in the state last year, it’s obvious why the Panthers are excited about the upcoming season.

Lakeville North’s first game will be next Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m. when they make the trip south to take on Rochester Mayo High School.