Tigers on prowl for strong season

by Greg Ceilley of The Review staff

HOWARDS GROVE – Bolstered by strong senior leadership and ball skills, the Howards Grove Tigers are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2009 season.

Head coach Todd Fischer, in his third season at the helm, has 10 seniors and 16 returning letter winners to build around this year. Leading the way for the Tigers is senior forward Duston Rabe, an All-Central Lakeshore Conference first-team pick last year and Howards’ top scorer with eight goals to go with four assists.

“I’m very optimistic that we will improve on last year’s finish. Senior leadership, conditioning and ball skills are our strengths,” said Fischer whose 2009 squad was 5-16-2 overall and was 4-9-1 in the CLC.

The Tigers already had six wins this season, heading into this week.

“We look to our seniors and captains to lead our team. The captains are Duston Rabe, Robert Betke and Ross Gilbert. The leaders are Paul Elzinga, Carter Rockhill and Jared Flesch,” Fischer said.

Betke, a junior midfielder, was named to the 2009 All-CLC second team and Rockhill, a senior goalkeeper, received honorable mention. Rockhill made 189 saves in 2009 – his first season as the Tigers’ goalie.

Elzinga had four goals and five assists, and returning starting forward Nathan Mutsch scored six goals last season.

The coach thinks the freshman group is talented and will add value to the squad.

“We are very balanced and are deep at the midfield and forward positions,” Fischer observed. “Communication is our largest weakness.”

He pointed out the key for the Tigers to enjoy success: “Our success will solely be based on our teamwork and the ability to work together on the field.”

Asked how the conference shapes up, Fischer said, “The CLC is always tough. We do not underestimate any of the teams as we prepare to play.”

Kohler, the two-time defending league champion and Division 3 state runner-up last year, graduated six All-CLC players, including three first-teamers.

Fischer said his top goals for the season are to prepare game by game and look to clinch the school’s first CLC boys soccer title.
HOWARDS GROVE
BOYS SOCCER SCHEDULE
Varsity
Aug. 18 – Sheboygan Lutheran, here
Aug. 21 – at Sheboygan South Invite
Aug. 23 – @ Kohler
Aug. 26 – Ozaukee, here
Aug. 28 – Kiel, here
Aug. 31 – @ Random Lake
Sept. 2 – @ Sheboygan Christian
Sept. 9 – Oostburg, here
Sept. 11 – Racine Case, here
Sept. 14 – @ Cedar Grove
Sept. 16 – @ Sheboygan Lutheran
Sept. 18 – @ Sheboygan Falls Invite
Sept. 20 – Kohler, here
Sept. 23 – @ Ozaukee
Sept. 28 – Random Lake, here
Sept. 30 – Sheboygan Christian, here
Oct. 4 – @ Oostburg
Oct. 7 – Cedar Grove, here

HOWARDS GROVE VARSITY

BOYS SOCCER ROSTER

Seniors – Kevin Sommer (midfielder), *Jordan Bramstedt (mid.), *Zach Stueven (mid.-defender), *Paul Elzinga (forward-mid.), *Jared Flesch (def.), *Ross Gilbert (mid.), *Zach Nauschutz (def.), *Duston Rabe (for.), *Carter Rockhill (goalkeeper-def.) and Matt Brickner (mid.)

Juniors – *Alex Jaeger (def.), *Nathan Mutsch (for.) and *Robert Betke (mid.).

Sophomores – *Garrett Jahnke (mid.-for.), *Chris Niemann (for.), *Jackson Ebertz (def.), *Eric Moehring (mid.), *Justin Athorp (def.-goal.), Davis Nennig (mid-def.) and Cody Klemme (mid.-goal.).

Freshmen – Jordan Fischer (mid.), Tanner Voss (for.-def.), Andrew Gardner (mid.-def.), Josh Brunner (for.), Zach Berglund (for.-mid.), Madison Dolata (def.-mid.) and Nate Marver (def.-goal.). * = Returning letter winner.