2014 soccer schedule

Asher Huseman, a 2013 All-State first-team selection and 2012 honorable mention, has 37 goals in two seasons at Tonganoxie High.

Aug. 29 — at Baldwin

Sept. 2 — at Bonner Springs

Sept. 4 — at BLHS

Sept. 9 — vs. Atchison

Sept. 11 — vs. Perry

Sept. 16 — vs. Turner

Sept. 18 — at Piper

Sept. 22 — vs. Mill Valley

Sept. 25 — vs. St. Mary’s

Sept. 26 — at Maranatha

Sept. 30 — at Perry

Oct. 6 — vs. Lansing

Oct. 9 — vs. Bishop Ward

Oct. 14 — vs. Maur Hill

Oct. 16 — at Bishop Ward

Oct. 23 — at Immaculata

When the Tonganoxie High boys soccer team takes the field later this week, it will do so without eight members of last year’s senior class. However, this year’s squad will feature a more experienced unit than it did a year go.

Loaded with several veterans, the 2014 Chieftains have their eyes on a trip to the state tournament. THS reached its fifth consecutive regional championship game last fall, but saw its state bid end with an overtime loss to Bishop Ward.

With so much experience returning, THS hopes to return to the state championship game, which will be played just down the road at Bonner Springs’ David Jaynes Stadium.

“Last year, we were just young and inexperienced,” said fifth-year coach Brian Kroll. “Now, we’re young and experienced. They’re hungry because they were in every single one of those games last year.”

Kroll’s squad posted a 7-11 mark in 2013, including a 4-2 mark in its final six games. The Chieftain coach is 37-38-2 in four seasons at the helm.

Senior captains Garrett Martin and Kyle Caldwell will look to lead this year’s team, which has several underclassmen with at least one full year of varsity experience.

“I think they’ll have a big effect on our season,” said Martin, a midfielder. “Where we are now, I think we’ve shown more chemistry than we did all year last year. We’re finally trusting each other and we’re looking pretty good.

“We have the potential to be great. We just have to come together as a team. The attitude from the players, we’ve started winning and now people know what Tongie soccer is. The town has started to recognize us, and we just want more. We want to represent the town well in everything we do.”

Martin and Caldwell, a defender, are among a nine-man senior class that has never seen a season end short of the regional finals. THS reached the state finals in 2012 and the quarterfinals in 2011.

Also beginning his final season is two-time All-State forward Asher Huseman. Huseman earned first-team honors last season after leading the team with 18 goals. He has 37 total scores in just two seasons.

According to Kroll, Huseman’s big career numbers should warrant more attention from opposing defenses, hopefully freeing up other players to find the back of the net.

“What it does is, it makes people already have to be alert for him,” Kroll said of Huseman, who also tied for the team lead last season with six assists. “They’re going to be focusing on him, and it’s going to give other guys an opportunity to step up.”

Sophomore Jay Willcutt was second on the team with six goals last season. Fellow sophomore Logan Williams, junior Tyler Novotney and senior Colten Weaver are also back after recording multiple scores last season. Senior Thomas Minor and junior Spencer Finkbiner rounded out scoring with one goal each.

Huseman, Caldwell and junior goalkeeper Alex Kroll return as All-Kaw Valley League selections. Huseman was a first-teamer, while Caldwell and Alex Kroll received honorable mentions.

Sophomore Alec Richert is also back after starting all last season, and fellow sophomore Dylan Kroll will look to make a larger impact after playing in a reserve role. Additionally, this year’s roster includes nine freshman, and Brian Kroll said some could make an immediate push for varsity time.

THS will open its season Friday at Frontier League opponent Baldwin. The Chieftains dropped last year’s season opener against the Bulldogs, 5-3. The opener is the first of a three-game road trip, which also includes stops at Kaw Valley League foes Bonner Springs and Basehor-Linwood. The Chieftains will open their home schedule Sept. 9 against Atchison.

“We just need to keep practicing, touching up on our drills and working together as a team,” Huseman said.