Boy’s soccer looks to improve

• Jon Nevala-Plagemann

Jon Nevala-Plagemann will be looked to as one of the leaders of the Agate boy’s soccer team this season. File photo

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Even though last season wasn’t peaches and cream for the Agates boy’s soccer team, they finished their season with a record of 2-14, their coach thinks his team could be strong this season.

“Our team has speed and touch with the ball so what we need to do as a team in keep our touches with the ball short and quick and move off the ball to utilize our speed, and the experience that we have with so many of these kids playing varsity this year,” said second-year head coach Corey Shaw.

He added he expects his team to play into late October (playoff time).

Returning this season will be senior captain and goalie Andrew Kragseth, senior center-mid captain Jon Nevala-Plagemann and junior defender Paul Sonday.

Character is one thing these players should definitely have.

“We played some of the better teams in the state when they were at their peak and I felt that those games built a lot of character (last season),” Shaw said. “Hermantown, early in the year was ranked ninth then towards the end of the season we played Duluth East when they were second and the next day Grand Rapids who was ninth. So overall I felt it went well but there is always room for improvement.”

The aforementioned players will try and make up for the losses of forwards Jamie Merrill and foreign exchange student Daniel Giese, along with Robert Lutz and Jesse Draman.

“There are a few games that we are looking forward to this year,” Shaw said. “Our opening game against Hermantown has been big for us the past two years. It’s the start of the season and we want to open up strong and put a ‘W’ on the board. Also we look forward to playing Grand Rapids at home this year and Duluth East as well. They were the top teams in the area and we look forward to matching up with them again.”

Tags: two harbors, boys soccer, sports