Streator Bulldogs soccer taking aim at the defensive end

The Streator boys soccer team put together one of the best seasons in school history the last time the Bulldogs were on the pitch and is looking to do the same again, although in this abbreviated, pandemic-adjusted season, it would come by taking a different path to that lofty goal.

“Most of our experience this year is on the defensive end, so we’re going to focus on defense first this season. We have great senior leadership in that area and a lot of players who got good minutes in a year ago.”

—  Streator boys soccer coach Jim Muntz

Last season’s success was keyed by The Times 2019 Player of the Year Tommy Kress, who accounted for 28 goals and 25 assists in his senior year and left as the SHS career leader in assists (50) and third in goals (50). His efforts not only helped the ‘Dogs set school marks in goals (108) and assists (151), but led to the second-best team record in school annals, 19-4-2.

The season ended bitterly for such a prolific scoring team, a 2-0 loss to Dixon in the semifinals of the Class 2A Geneseo Regional in October 2019.

But this year, coach Jim Muntz is taking a different tack – on the defensive side of the game.

“Most of our experience this year is on the defensive end, so we’re going to focus on defense first this season,” said Muntz, who has decided this will be his final season after going 350-199-33 in his first 27 campaigns at SHS, the past 24 of them with winning records. “We have great senior leadership in that area and a lot of players who got good minutes in a year ago. Many of them also have some really good soccer sense, too, so that will be our main strength.

“Last year, we were very strong offensively, but we don’t have a lot of that firepower back. We’re going to be very young offensively. Some of the seniors or underclassmen will have to step up and take over that role. Both aspects go hand in hand, and I feel we have the leadership to get it done on both ends.”

That defense will be led by the team’s most experienced players, among them goalkeeper Max Baker. In 25 games as a junior, Baker posted seven shutouts and a goals-against average of 1.2.

In front of him are several letterwinners: seniors Damian Simmons (two goals, five assists) and Jackson Stipp, junior Mac Beals and sophomore Parker Phillis. Working their way into the rotation will be junior Aiden Studnicki and sophomores Connor Aken, Declan O’Connor and Aiden Kearfott.

Offensively, the Bulldogs will be a young group led by senior midfielder Sawyer Good, who turned in 11 goals and 18 assists last season and who will serve as Baker’s backup in goal.

Also in the midfield mix, where good decision-making will be a priority, will be junior Brian Chavez and sophomore Brian Huichapa (four goals, two assists), both returnees, with juniors Will Hatzer and Connor Novotney, sophomore Brady Grabowski and freshman Landon Muntz also looking for time.

Filling the void on the far offensive end will be sophomore Kody Danko (four goals, eight assists). Newcomers to the offense are junior Braxton Mushimba, sophomore Kannin Angelico and Keaton Yedinak.

“I kind of know what the makeup of this team will be, but at the same time too, these kids haven’t had a chance to play with each other since [2019],” coach Muntz said. “Normally when you come into a season, you’ve had your summer workouts. I believe the chemistry for this team is here, but it might take a while to jell.

“Leadership, setting the example, will this season have to come from our seniors. It’s their team. It’s their last go-round. It’s a weird season.

“Our approach is that we want to be competitive in every single game, because you never know which game is going to be our last. We could play one day and then be off 10 days or play 15 games and our season’s over. Who knows?

“That’s why we want to leave everything out on the field every game, because for the seniors, their season could be over in the snap of your fingers or a telephone call.”