Boys soccer returns veteran players

The boys soccer team returns a veteran squad and looks for a stellar season ahead. Sisters gets back eight seasoned players including three seniors: Jake Lasken; Chris Waters; and Kevin Marquardt.

Lasken, in his third year, will play a major role on defense and also as a leader on the team. Waters returns as a second-year varsity player and will move from outside defense to stopper.

Coach Rob Jensen said, "Chris will be very good at stopper. He will fill some big shoes left by Sam Orwig, but he's capable of controlling the ball, seeing the field and making passes to forwards and midfielders."

Marquardt returns for a second season with the Outlaws and will see time at both forward and midfield. Marquardt is a very strong player and one of last year's leading scorers. Jensen will look for more leadership from Marquardt this year through his solid play. Marquardt will also be expected to score for the Outlaws and make players around him better.

Scott Everson, Scotty Bowen, Sam Quinn and Tanner Smith are all juniors and back for another year. Everson is a very strong all-around player who returns for his third season and will play at both forward and midfield. Jensen looks for Scott to be more offensive-minded and score more goals for the Outlaws this year.

Bowen is a second-year player and will play a larger role at the midfield position. Quinn will play at sweeper and will anchor the defense for the Outlaws. Smith will play defense and also see some time in the goal. Smith is a third-year player and a strong defender with lots of maturity and leadership skills.

The squad has many strong newcomers to the team and, according to Jensen, they will be competing for time at the varsity level. New to the team this year are: Tim Hernandez (midfield/forward), Freddy Gonzalez (midfield/forward), Grayson Gould (defense), Austin Williams (defense/forward), Sky Ling-Scott (forward), Devon Prescott (midfield/forward/defense), Geoff Houck (forward/goalie), Ryan Long (defense) and Drew Harrison (goalie).

"The biggest key of this new group is Drew (Harrison)," said Jensen. "He's been in the program before, and he's back. He's a big, strong, experienced goal keeper and a great person and leader."

Jensen said, "This year the entire team is looking solid in every position. There are lots of two- and three-year veterans and a lot of new faces that play like veterans. If we maintain a positive attitude and teamwork and we gel, the sky's the limit for these guys."

The Outlaws will participate in a jamboree in Redmond on Thursday, September 3. Sisters will play against Madras and Crook County in games that will have two 60-minute halves instead of regulation 80-minute halves.