Enthusiasm Running High For Eagles Soccer

Sullivan head soccer coach Bill Kackley said his team is confident going into the 2021 season and there is a strong belief among the players they can make a run following a 2-19-1 record last year.

“Just talking during open fields, these guys think they can be good,” Kackley said. “That’s good. That’s step one, but we had a preseason meeting and I showed them some stats.”

Kackley told the group they only scored a little more than one goal per game and allowed more than three goals last season, which was a learning experience for many of them.

“I said, ‘you have to get better at defending and become better at passing and possessing the ball,’” he said. “They understand.”

Kackley likes that the Eagles are enthusiastic. Enthusiasm has spread because Sullivan has a total of 33 players rostered between varsity and junior varsity.

“I’m really shocked,” said Kackley, Sullivan’s longest-tenured soccer coach. “Us coaches thought we would only have 18 to 20.”

There are 13 seniors on the roster and 10 freshmen came out.

“That’s a big plus,” he said.

Between inexperience, injuries and COVID-19 quarantines, 2020 was unkind to the program. The district assignment didn’t even shine favorably. Sullivan was sent to a district with MICDS, which went on to win the Class 2 championship.

None of that has dampened enthusiasm.

Participation at open fields during the summer was high. There were some sessions where the team was able to play a full 11-on-11.

“Summer open fields was really good,” Kackley said.

Now that enthusiasm has to translate to results.

It starts with the scoring deficiency.

Collin Farrell and Jacob Brooks were the top two scorers a year ago and both graduated. Kackley said they have been doing scoring drills that emphasize shooting closer to the net.

“We have a tendency to blast the ball from too far away,” he said.

The team also must improve passing and possession. Kackley said if they improve, he’ll feel more comfortable being aggressive.

If not, the team will have to focus its efforts on defense.

The defense will be led by goalkeeper Andrew Starr. As a sophomore, Starr did everything he could to keep the games close. he allowed less than three goals per game and made 199 saves.

“He did well last year,” Kackley said.

Sullivan has scaled back the schedule, dropping tournaments at Camdenton and St. Charles.

The upcoming Lebanon Tournament on Aug. 27 is the only one the Eagles will compete in this season.

“We’re going to play a shorter season and work on getting better on the practice field,” Kackley said. He is hoping the lighter schedule will keep the team from getting as “banged up” as they were last year.

He’s also not backing down from setting high goals.

“We want to compete for a conference title,” he said.

Sullivan begins the season Friday, Aug. 27 against Marshfield.