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Comets must replace 10 seniors

Waupaca boys’ soccer team moving into new conference

By Greg Seubert


Brett Hanke participates in a ball control drill during a recent boys' soccer practice at Waupaca High School.
Brett Hanke participates in a ball control drill during a recent boys’ soccer practice at Waupaca High School.

With 10 graduated seniors to replace and a new conference, there are some big changes in store this season for the Waupaca boys’ soccer team.

“After losing 10 seniors last year, we have a whole new crew with a large junior class,” fourth-year coach Mat Lawniczak said. “It’s a smaller senior crew, but they’re all on varsity for the most part.

“We’re looking at starting our freshman goalie and we have a whole new defense,” he said. “The guys worked hard in the offseason and we’re hoping for the best.”

The Comets are moving from the East Central Conference to the North Eastern Conference, which also includes Clintonville, Denmark, Fox Valley Lutheran, Freedom, Little Chute, Luxemburg-Casco, Marinette, Wrightstown.

Clintonville, FVL, Freedom and Little Chute also made the move from the Eastern Valley.

“They’re about the same-sized schools struggling to get guys out,” Lawniczak said. “The guys are excited about playing against the same type of competition.”

Waupaca posted a 10-11-2 mark last year and finished fourth in the EVC with a 4-3-1 record.

The Comets have to replace a pair of all-conference players from last year in first-teamer Miguel Barraza and third-teamer goalie, but has a pair of returning all-EVC players in third-teamers Evan Bolwerk and Seth Boldt.

“I’m excited to see Evan Bolwerk,” Lawniczak said. “He really grew as a player. The number of assists and goals he had last year is astounding.”

He also wants to get that other returning all-conference player, third-teamer Seth Boldt, more involved in the offense this year.

“We’re hoping to get him in a position where he can really contribute,” he said. “Last year, we kind of had to keep him in more at a center-mid position for more assists, but then he surprised us with the goals. We’re putting him in a more offensive role.”

Other returning players include outside defenders Drake Hiddemen and Eugene Pliska.

“They’re going to be our center-mids,” Lawniczak said. “We think they’re really going to control the defense.”

Waupaca opened the season Aug. 25 at Stevens Point and will head to Oshkosh Saturday, Aug. 29, for the Oshkosh North Invitational at Winnebago County Park.

Lawniczak wants to see his players gel as a team as soon as possible.

“It’s hard,” he said. “All these guys play with different teams in the summer and then they come in here and we have one week to work together. I’m throwing different formations at them and I’m expecting a lot from them. I’m hoping they show me that they can work together as a team. I’m excited to see that.”

The Comets will open North Eastern play at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at home against Marinette.

“We have a lineup that we feel comfortable with,” Lawniczak said. “We can always make changes, but I think the formation we picked for this season works the best for the guys that we have coming out.”

Waupaca boys’ soccer 2015 schedule

Varsity
Tuesday, Aug. 25 – at Stevens Point, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29 – at Oshkosh North Invitational, Winnebago County Park, Oshkosh, 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – vs. Marinette, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3 – vs. Hortonville, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – vs. St. Mary Catholic, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10 – at Denmark, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – at Wausau West Invitational, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – vs. Wrightstown, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – at Seymour, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – vs. Mosinee, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – vs. Amherst, New London, Sheboygan Falls, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 1 – at Luxemburg-Casco, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 5 – vs. Medford, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – at Freedom, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8 – vs. Clintonville, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 – at Little Chute, 4:30 p.m.

Junior Varsity
Tuesday, Aug. 25 – at Stevens Point, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – vs. Lourdes Academy, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – at Wausau West, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – vs. Wrightstown, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17 – at Seymour, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 – at New London, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – vs. Mosinee, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – vs. Amherst, New London, Sheboygan Falls, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 1 – at Luxemburg-Casco, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 5 – vs. Medford, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – at Freedom, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8 – vs. Clintonville, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 – vs. Wrightstown, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 – vs. St. Lawrence Seminary, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17 – Waupaca hosts North Eastern Conference meet, 9 a.m.

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