Members of the Lake Orion High School Varsity Boys Soccer Team was surprised this fall season with a new coach, who also brings a fresh perspective to the team.
Erick Pfeifer, an Oxford resident, was hired to replace Randy McCoy as the varsity coach for LOHS boy soccer. Pfeifer has almost 30 years of experience coaching soccer, and doesn’t take his job lightly.
“I’d guess I bring back 8-9 players from last year’s team…I cut some of the kids who were on last year’s team,” he said. “I’m new, but not to soccer. They had no idea what to expect from me, and I basically killed them.”
Pfeifer said he imposed time limits for running and other qualifications for members of this year’s squad.
“You don’t make (the time)…you have to run it to play,” he said.
Lake Orion’s varsity team will have Drew White and John Jeshrew in the nets this year as keepers, and standout Billy Weaver also returns to the field this year.
“They’re looking good, we’re working on conditioning,” Pfeifer explained. “We have two sophomores on the team…everyone is getting along really well. Their work ethic is their strength.”
Pfeifer spent 15 years coaching soccer at Troy, where he started their program. From there he spent 12 years coaching for Oxford High School, then retired and coached three years for girls soccer in Rochester before taking the position at LOHS.
He also works at Crossroads for Youth in Oxford as a graphic arts teacher.
“We should do well in the league,” he said of his Lake Orion team. “I have high expectations.
“There are no all stars on this team,” he continued. “There can’t be. I have a great player in Billy…but this is high school, not travel soccer.”
Lake Orion kicked off their season on Saturday against Pfeifer’s former team, the Oxford Wildcats, and hosted Troy on Monday in their first home game.
The team plays against Lahser at home on Aug. 27, and will fact Birmingham Groves on the road on Sept. 2.