Fast start creates a buzz around Highland boy soccer team
There is a palpable buzz around the Highland boys soccer team these days and it might be around for the balance of the 2023 season.
Highland enters the middle of the season with its best start since the 2016 season thanks to a 7-3 early surge that has Bulldogs coach Jay Robertson feeling upbeat about the direction his club is heading this fall.
“I feel like we’ve played some good soccer and we’ve been banged up with injuries for a little while and we’ve had some other kids step up and play and there’s been some younger guys contributing and playing well,” Robertson said.
Highland, which is third place in the MVC race started the season on fire winning five of their first six games including a 5-1 home win over Civic Memorial on Sept 7.
Robertson credits the team’s summer preparation and a big drive to win by the players as key drivers to the Bulldogs fast start so far.
“I think we built some momentum over the summer with (our) training and working out and the kids are eager and they’re hungry to get out and off to a good start,” Robertson said. “It’s amazing how fast the season goes by and we’re only a little over a week from doing (regional) seeding and all of those things for postseason, so we’re going to try to continue the momentum and get healthy (as a team).”
Timely scoring has also been a big help to the Bulldogs cause with five players scoring four or more goals to date.
Luke Morris (11 goals, 6 assists), Zane Korte (7 goals, 6 assists), Jacob Oliver (6 goals, 3 assists), Logan Mollet (5 goals, 3 assists), and Jacob Lewis (5 goals, 3 assists) give the Bulldogs scoring punch around the goal.
“We have times where we can score in spurts,” Robertson said. “We’ve been able to put up some goals offensively this year and we have some guys that are putting the ball away. So, I’m pretty happy with the attack and Luke Morris has had a pretty nice year and Jacob Oliver, Zane Korte, Jacob Lewis, and Logan Mollet, they’ve all been scoring the ball well this year.”
Robertson also credits the play of senior goalie Cole Ellis with keeping the Bulldogs in games and not letting them fall behind often.
Ellis has been dazzling in goal with a 1.22 goals-against average with six wins.
“Cole’s been fantastic this year,” Robertson said. “He’s had a great senior year. He’s had moments where’s he’s made some amazing saves and he’s been controlling the box and reading plays well and he comes out when he needs to and I can’t say enough about how well Cole’s played.”
Robertson believes this group has a chance to be a factor in the MVC race and be a postseason threat as the regular season winds into the final three weeks as long as they continue to improve in all facets of the game.
“We just need to continue to grow as a group, be sound defensively and then take advantage of our offensive opportunities,” Robertson said.