The Pratt Community College men's soccer team looks to rally from a disappointing 2016 campaign. Coach Kevin Kewley has reloaded the team providing the Beavers with competition among the players for starting positions and playing time. Kewley has plenty of options to shape the 2017 squad into a contender.
"It's kind of hard to tell where we are as a team because we've only played one scrimmage game," Kewley said. "I would say that we've got sixteen or seventeen freshmen. We've reloaded and are going to be a new team. We are still trying to find peoples' roles on the team and where they fit in. The goalkeeping situation is crowded with four goal keepers competing for a starting spot. We are going to use the pre-conference games to see how they play against live competition. I'm giving them all a half in the games before our first conference game to prove themselves. I've got the same situation on the field as well. I've got about four or five penciled in to start, and another five or six places that are up for grabs. It's all pretty close. Francesco (D'Aurelio) is showing a lot of promise, but we will have to see who steps up once the season starts."
The Blue and White have plenty of holes to fill from the 2016 team. Gone are team assist leader Simon Christidis and KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year Jordan Stubbings. Kewley is looking for new faces to step up and create offense for PCC this season.
"Nathan Wilson scored two good goals in the weekend scrimmage against Oklahoma Wesleyan," Kewley said. "I was please offensively because one of my biggest concerns was losing Jordan and his goals. It was a combined effort from the offense. They all played about fifty percent of the game and we had chances to score no matter who played. I'm still looking for someone to step up. Nathan stepped up the other day. We will just have to wait and see because they are all going to get a chance. We've got lots of possibilities on offense, but no one besides Nathan has really stuck out in my mind. Carlos Reyna did really well and created a lot of chances. Moises Diaz played very well. They know I'm going to have to switch people around, possibly put some midfielders up front, in order to score goals. One of my concerns are where the goals are going to come from, but we are strong defensively once again."
The KJCCC schedule provides a tough road for the Beavers this season. Competition is high throughout the conference. Kewley expects the Blue and White to be competitive, regardless of who the opponent is.
"I like to play a lot of games before conference," Kewley said. "We are going to have three games under our belt before we start conference play. I'll know my lineup then and how we stack. It's really hard to tell. Just by talking to other coaches Cloud is going to be strong again with a lot of internationals. Barton stepped up after not winning last year and they are always very competitive. I know Northwest Tech is going to be a surprise because they have won three preseason games already, and they've loaded up on internationals. Their coach use to be a director of a soccer agency in Britain and is going to be loaded both on the men's and women's side through those connections. It's hard to tell how we look compared to the rest of the conference, but like I've told my guys, I'm not going to accept half-hearted efforts and we are going to go after it. We expect to win and we will not be afraid of anybody. As long as they give 100 percent I'll be happy.
PCC men's soccer starts their season on the road against Rose State College before their home opener on Sunday Aug. 27 against Coffeyville Community College. Kickoff for the first home match will be at 5 p.m.