Your future, our focus
Tough Tests This Week Vs. Rocky Mountain, Great Falls
The Northwest College men’s soccer team gave fans and coaches a first look at its potential during Saturday afternoon’s alumni game.
The current Trappers shut out the alumni 5-0, a fact so meaningless head coach Rob Hill had to double check the score following the match.
Official stats weren’t kept because, at this early juncture of the season, Hill is more interested in what he can learn from his eyes than a piece of paper.
“First time together I’m just trying to get an idea for how they play together,” Hill said. “Everyone’s come from a different background, a different team, a different style of play, so it gives me an idea for what kind of tactic they were used to.”
The sixth-year coach said the results were mostly positive, though he acknowledged his team still has a way to go before it’s ready for Region IX play (which starts at home against Sheridan on Sept. 2).
All five goals were scored by Northwest newcomers.
George Battersby scored two goals while Danny Mort, Charlie Gleisinger and Lane Thorne each had one.
“Mort, I’ve seen a couple things things from him — because he’s an international — that I haven’t seen before,” Hill said. “That’s good, as a striker.”
Mort, Battersby and Gleisinger are from England while Thorne is from Kuna, Idaho.
Mitchell Pinney is a freshman out of Vancouver, Washington who, though he didn’t score, repeatedly flashed his plus speed down the right wing.
“Got to see Mitchell’s pace, which was really good,” Hill said.
The team’s biggest preseason obstacle may be adjusting to Region IX’s style of play, which isn’t traditionally kind to players who play a purely finesse game.
“These guys, so far, are good soccer players, but they’ve got to get used to the physicality of the game,” Hill said. “It’s a very physical conference, it’s a very physical region.”
The next test comes quickly, when University of Great Falls comes to Powell for a 3 p.m. scrimmage on Thursday.
“It’s going to be an eye-opener for these guys,” Hill said. “It’s going to be a lot faster, a lot more physical. It’s going to be a full 90-minute, fast-paced, physical game.”
The Trappers will get only one day’s rest following Thursday’s friendly with the Argos and Saturday’s scrimmage against Rocky Mountain College, which will start at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Memorial Field.
“They’re going to be big surprises for these guys,” Hill said. “We haven’t been very physical in practice, and I think that’s going or be a little bit of a shock for these guys.
“They’ve got to get stronger on the ball, and they have to prepare for it mentally as well.”
The offense created plenty of opportunities on Saturday, and though the Trappers held the alumni scoreless, it wasn’t always because of their defense.
The former Trappers generated some scoring chances, but lacked the ability to finish once inside the box. More polished teams will be able to take advantage if Northwest’s defense breaks down.
“We’ve got to organize defensively, I think that’s something that we all need to work on,” Hill said.
The alumni game, as well as this week’s friendlies, give Hill an opportunity to evaluate his roster and build the beginnings of a starting lineup.
“Over this next month I’ll slowly form a solid lineup that I want, and also some alternatives depending on who we play and what style of play,” he said. “I told the guys at the beginning, I’m not necessarily looking for the best players on the pitch, but the best team. I tried quite a few people out at different places, so it gives me an idea who works well together, who works well off each other.”
The NWC women get their first live-game action when they start off the doubleheader against the University of Great Falls Argos at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The women will also open against Rocky Mountain at 5 p.m. in Cody on Saturday.