Sean C. Morgan
With a dearth of experienced players and a large influx of freshmen, the Sweet Home boys soccer team is young, but Coach Eric Stutzer believes the Huskies are building a foundation for future success.
“We had a couple of losses to transfers, which hurts,” Stutzer said.
Jarrett Owen is the only returning senior for Sweet Home.
This is the skilled defender’s fourth year – he played varsity as a freshman. In practice he’s shown good leadership, Stutzer said.
“I’m excited about Jarrett.”
Stutzer said he has a lot of returning juniors, including Tristan Calkins.
“He’s just a really good athlete,” Stutzer said. He’s also one of the best goalies the Huskies have had, “and he can play all over the field.”
Calkins was a big contributor during the team’s summer league, and in the Oregon West league, Stutzer expects to have him out front as well.
Jaxsen Brown is returning after a year off from soccer, Stutzer said, noting that Brown works hard and demonstrates good ball control.
“He’s doing some good things in practice.”
Chase Lopez is the team captain, Stutzer said. “He’s just one of the hardest workers and really has a heart for the program.”
His leadership led his teammates to keep a ball on their feet during the off season and during the team’s first summer schedule, Stutzer said. Lopez gives 110 percent and shows a lot of leadership in the absence of seniors, he added.
Along with Owen, Judah Christman returns with the most varsity experience, Stutzer said.
Joe Hiemenz is the team’s only returning sophomore from last year’s varsity, Stutzer said, and “he’s going to be a real contributor.”
Many of the Huskies have little varsity experience, Stutzer said. Most have none.
Senior Nick James and juniors J.J. Mata, Gavin Erevia and Stanley Blank join the team this season.
William Hawken is joining the team as a sophomore.
This is the first year the ASYO club program has been able to feed the Sweet Home program, Stutzer said, and the Huskies are picking up nine freshmen, who played during the summer season started by Stutzer.
For the past three or four years, the team has picked up just one or two freshmen, Stutzer said.
Among the freshmen this year, Stutzer is excited about twins Chris and Caleb Christman and Evan Towry, who are all going to be immediate contributors.
Additional freshmen include Anthony Andersen, Hudson Forum, Mason Lopez, Cooper McKinnon and Jacob Windom.
A new co-ed summer season made a big difference between those who played and those who didn’t, Stutzer said; and he is even more optimistic, thanks to a new junior high program.
Melissa Klumph led a group of parents to successfully lobby for the program at Sweet Home Junior High. The school hired coaches and formally created the program.
Next year will literally be the first year Stutzer won’t have to teach new high school players the fundamentals, he said.
“We’re going to be able to work on tactical things where we were only able to work on technical things. Next year, we’re going to have even better freshmen.”
That’s looking forward, but this year the players remain fairly green. The Huskies will face adversity this year, Stutzer said.
“We need to make sure there’s realistic expectations for this program.”
If the group is able to come together and work as a team, it could get some wins, Stutzer said; but it won’t be at the same level as Newport or Woodburn, the defending state champion.
It’ll be a difficult season, Stutzer said, but the team will become better as a result. The Huskies will be an underdog in every game, but that gives them a chance to rise above that.
“As we work that way, we’ll see a team develop, and as we see a team develop, we might be able to steal one (a win),” Stutzer said.
He is looking at Towry to fill in at keeper when Calkins is on the field, Stutzer said. Brown has experience at goalie as well, giving the Huskies three options in the box. Calkins had to handle keeper duties alone last year.
Positions are “still really up in the air,” Stutzer said. The team is so green, it’s a matter of seeing how the players develop.
Chris Christman played good defense during summer league, and Caleb Christman was solid anywhere, scoring two or three goals during the summer.
Mata can play midfield well, Stutzer said. Jaxsen is a versatile player, Lopez will work midfield, and Hiemenz will play mid and forward.
Blank can play anywhere, and Towry will work midfield when he’s not in the goal.
The rest of the positions are undecided, Stutzer said, noting that the freshmen are good defenders.
“The players we do have out have a lot of versatility,” he said.
The program will not have a junior varsity at this point, Stutzer said. If it can get six or seven additional players out, he’ll be able to field a team, allowing full scrimmages in practice.
The league is tough, Stutzer said, with three teams in last year’s top 10 and two in the top five.
Woodburn won it all last year, Stutzer said. “I would be surprised if Woodburn did not repeat as champions.”
Woodburn, Newport and Stayton all made the playoffs, Stutzer said. Stayton lost in the first round but was the only team to beat Woodburn last year.
Philomath is likely a top-15 team, Stutzer said.
Sisters and Cascade are wildcards, Stutzer said, and that’s where the Huskies could really compete.
The team has few pre-season games, Stutzer said. They’ll see Lebanon and Elmira. The Huskies might be able to steal a win against Elmira.
“We have the capability and the determination,” Stutzer said. “It’s just a question of can our athletes find a happy medium with our level of skill.”
Huck Thomas will not return to the coaching staff this year, Stutzer said. His job requirements prevented it. The school is accepting applications for a JV coach.
Stutzer will have assistance from volunteer Roland Lupoli. Lupoli’s twin, Rawlins, is currently completing the volunteer process as well. .
Having a coaching staff “is a testament” to where the program has gone and will help specialize the coaching, Stutzer said, and the Lupoli brothers will take a lot of pressure off of Stutzer and the JV coach.
“I’m excited about this group of guys, the potential,” Stutzer said. “I’m ecstatic we’ve got a junior high program.”
Summer league was valuable for both of the high school soccer teams, Stutzer said.
“There’s a lot to be optimistic about.”