Lake Orion boys soccer Coach Erick Pfeiffer is the first to admit that last season was a rebuilding one for his program.
‘We ended up fourth place in the league (OAA I) and that’s kind of what I expected,? Pfeiffer said.
But the coach said expectations are much higher this fall.
‘On paper, we’re as good as anybody in the state this year,? Pfeiffer said.
‘We had 126 kids come out for our three teams this year,? he added. ‘We disappointed a lot of kids, and that’s bad, but it’s good for the program.?
The Dragons will start five seniors, including three on the defensive side, but it is Pfeiffer’s young guns up front that will be relied on the most.
Top scorer Reed Losee returns and will be joined by dynamic freshman Blake Skameria up front. Center-midfielder Bim Oquntemi, a senior, returns to LO after spending last year in Minnesota.
Now a sophomore, Losee scored 19 goals for the Dragons last year and Pfeiffer said changes in his top player are obvious.
‘He grew,? Pfeiffer said. ‘He’s over six feet tall now and he was not even close to that last year.?
‘Now he might not score as many goals this year, but he’s got Bim and Blake around him to take some of that burden.?
The coach noted that the scoring depth his team possesses is a luxury that other teams, like Clarkston with star Oliver Kupe, don’t have.
Captains for the 2007 season are seniors Kyle Boyle, Scott Morris and A.J. Pratt.
Junior Aram Keteyian is slated to start in goal. He saw limited action last season behind the graduated Ryan King, including some time in districts versus Adams.
With a shortened season this year, the Dragons get right into league play with a pair of OAA I road tilts next week.
Pfeiffer expects Adams and Clarkston (teams the Dragons have routinely seen in district play, too) along with Stoney Creek to join his team in fighting for the league crown.
‘Whoever comes out of our league could very well make it to the state finals,? he said.
Adams won both the league and district a year ago, advancing all the way to the state quarterfinals.