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New THS soccer coach expects offense to pack punch

By Staff | Aug 31, 2005

Tonganoxie soccer players and their coach were eager to open the season last Friday.

But heavy rains postponed the game against Mill Valley — and the debut of THS coach Kenneth Lott, a former assistant at Leavenworth High.

“It always seems like it’s one thing or the other,” Lott said. “It’s all right. I’ve waited this long. I can wait one or two more days.”

Lott finally had his head-coaching debut on Monday as the Chieftains battled Bonner Springs at home.

Although Tonganoxie led early and was tied, 2-2, with Bonner Springs in the first half, Bonner Springs scored two more goals before halftime and held a 4-2 lead.

In the second half, Tonganoxie didn’t contain BSHS as Bonner Springs went on to win, 8-2, and spoiled Lott’s first game as the Chieftains’ coach.

“We were just tired,” Lott said. “We just have some things to work on. The kids know what they are.

“I was happy with the first half. We just broke down in the second half. They brought a lot of offense at us.”

Tonganoxie’s Jacob Potterbin and Pepe Orozco scored the Chieftains’ goals.

Although Potterbin has been in the Chieftain program for some time, Orozco, as a foreign exchange student from Mexico, is new to the THS team.

During the preseason, Lott said his team “looked promising.”

Although Tonganoxie lost eight seniors last year — Kirk Rodell, Robert Kirch, Travis Schultz, Bradley Willis, Mike Tate, Jake McGhee, Shane Gober and Jeff Gravatt, the team has eight seniors taking their places.

Tyler Lohman, Shawn Everhart, Derek O’Brien, Micah Titterington, Matt Taylor, Eli Jones and Orozco are taking the field as seniors. Goal keeper David Hassinger also is a senior this season.

“Our strongest asset is going to be our offense this year,” Lott said last week.

The Chieftains showed Monday they could get on the board with the two goals in the first half.

This season, Lott is implementing some different formations, including a 3-4-3 and a 3-5-2.

After losing its first game of the season against Bonner Springs, the Chieftains will be back in action at 6 p.m. Thursday at home against Basehor-Linwood.