Lancers Hope Youth Can Topple Experience

The first few days of practice for the 2011 Lafayette boys soccer team has been a getting-to-know-you process for veteran coach Tim Walters.

"This is the newest team I have ever had," Walters said of starting his 17th season with the Lancers this fall. "I have never seen so many new faces. It is going to take a while to learn their personalities, their pain tolerance and their competitiveness."

Lafayette is coming off a solid 2010 season. The Lancers had a strong overall record (16-6-1) and conceded only 18 goals all season. They took 5 wins and 3 losses within the Suburban West Conference, but their season ended with a loss to Eureka High School in the district semifinals.

Walters has just three starters returning from last year's squad.

"I have never had that before," he said of the inexperience. "The guys who are coming back will have to have a different role and we will have a whole bunch of guys who will need to step up."

Walters does have the luxury of having three seniors who have been on the team since they were freshmen, however.

Forward Lucas Hake shared the team lead in scoring last year with 10 goals and 9 assists.

"It is nice to have a proven goal scorer back," Walters said. "He is quick and sneaky and we will definitely look for him to score this season."

Blake Hoover, who was a defensive starter at wingback, will begin the season in the center midfield.

Jean-Luc Panchot, who has played as goalkeeper and in the midfield before, will be the team's starting sweeper.

"Lucas, Blake and Jean-Luc will not only be taking on bigger roles, but they need to make the people around them better," Walters said.

In addition to the new team's inexperience, the squad also has gotten considerably smaller physically.

"We had a lot of size last season," Walters said. "Physicality could be a problem. It is exciting because it is so new but we will need to learn to be competitive and it is a year where we have to try to outwork people to be successful. Finishing int he middle of the pack this year could be tough."

Lafayette's young group is scheduled to open the season against Pattonville High School at 4:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29 at Lafayette.