By Chris Bennett
Sports correspondent
Three starters are missing from an Elkhorn soccer team that, last season, made the school’s first appearance in the WIAA Division 2 title game.
The Elks got routed by Whitefish Bay 4-0 in last season’s Division 2 title game, and finished second in the state in Division 2.
But the important thing is the Elks finished second in Division 2. The program heads into this season with their heads held high, knowing only a handful of teams in the state bested the best season in Elkhorn Area High School soccer history.
The Elks finished 19-4-3 last season, and opened this season Tuesday with a non-conference match at Stoughton. Elkhorn plays another non-conference match today at Janesville Craig.
This season’s version of the Elks is missing just three players from last season’s title run – forward Sid Babu and defenders Ian Nowell and Phillip Mearsman.
“We’re kind of at mid-season form already,” said coach BZ Kayser, in his eighth season with the boys program. “This is the most advanced we’ve been going into a season in awhile. That’s kind of fun.”
Kayser said the Elks are fast and deep, and are looking to use each of those assets this season as much as possible.
“We’re definitely tinkering with some different formations,” Kayser said. “We’re hoping to become more offensive minded.”
Kayser said the Elks will not become more vulnerable on defense when they choose to play faster on offense.
“We’re going to try to look for opportunities in games, and switch back and forth between formations,” Kayser said. “We have speed. You don’t teach it, and you don’t get it all the time. When you get it, you’ve got to take advantage of it.”
The Elks finished 17-4-2 overall last season, and went 7-2 and finished second in the Southern Lakes Conference.
Key returners include senior midfielder Ben Burrows, senior forwards Kevin and Bryant Romero, junior defender Caden Reece and junior goaltender Adam Reigle, among others.
The Elks boast eight returning senior letter winners – Grant Truesdale, Burrows, Kevin Romero, Bryant Romero, Leo Loredo, Kyle Shoeneberg, Teyatzin Aranda and Alonso Perez – six returning junior letter winners – Vince Umnus, Reece, Luke Umnus, Reigle and Alex Hergott – and two sophomore returning letter winners in Alec Birbaum and Devon Davey.
As always, the goal under Kayser is to win the conference. This season, though, the Elks are working with the added goal of returning to state.
“We lost only three players,” Kayser said. “We got almost every one back. We’ve got to stay healthy, obviously, and some things have got to go our way.”
In addition to Stoughton and Janesville Craig, the Elks’ early season schedule is stacked. Elkhorn plays Aug. 29 at Mukwonago, and then plays in the prestigious Gusho Tournament Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Brookfield East High School.
Brookfield East, Muskego, Wauwatosa West, Germantown, Waukesha West, Middleton and Oak Creek are also in the tournament, which Kayser said the Elks have tried getting into for years.
“You’ve got to send a bit of a resume to get in,” Kayser said. “Apparently, they think we’re going to be okay this year.”
