The Wildcats lost nearly every starter from last year’s high-scoring district championship team that tied a school record with 21 wins.
With a young lineup, there’s no pressure to repeat that feat. That kind of success is just expected now.
“We set the bar high last year so we know what’s expected of us as a soccer team,” said junior Garrett Walsingham, one of three returning starters. “We’re ready to go out and do it again.”
Temple opens its season at 2 p.m. today against Pflugerville at Woodson Field in a pool-play match of the Wildcat Kickoff Classic.
A year ago, the Wildcats blitzed opponents with a fast-paced offense that scored goals in bunches. Forward Sean Coles lead the charge, scoring a school-record 48 goals.
After losing speedy players at key offensive positions, Temple intends to be much more deliberate this season.
The young Wildcats have spent much of their early-season practices working on a slower offense based around solid passing to find open shots.
“It’s not so much direct, but ball control,” said Temple coach Matt Corley, last year’s District 13-5A Coach of the Year. “We’ll control the tempo of the game with passing. We’re just trying to have a more controlled offense, not so much run-and-gun.”
Forward Itai Meki is the Wildcats’ top returning goal scorer. With Meki’s mix of speed and physicality, Corley admits the team will rely on his offense early on.
“For him to come out starting (today) and be really active . . . will set the stage for the other kids,” Corley said.
Meki, midfielder Tawanda Meki and defender-turned-midfielder Walsingham are the Wildcats’ only returning starters, meaning Temple might field one of the district’s most inexperienced teams. Fifteen of the 22 Wildcats are beginning their first varsity season.
Among the newcomers Corley expects to see major minutes are goalkeeper Brandon Stegmeyer, defenders Tyler Gibson and Brandon Dutton and midfielder Sam Petter.
With young players starting at nearly every position, the few returners know how tough the transition to varsity can be.
But what this new group of Wildcats has shown so far has given them reason to be encouraged.
“We’re a younger team so we don’t have as much experience stepping on the field, but I have confidence in what we’re putting out there,” Walsingham said.
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
