Team Preview: RHS boys’ soccer

New Rhinelander High School boys’ soccer coach John Vojta has high expectations for his squad but, with a young roster and coming off a 4-10-2 season last year, the Hodags realize that this year’s team will be a work in progress.

“I want to see them on top of the GNC. That’s a tough ask, but that’s the goal. I’m not coming in here for second place. I’m coming in here to win. These guys have the drive, but they also understand this is a two-year program right now with these kids, because they’re all back next year,” he said. 

The Hodags had seven all-GNC picks last year, but five of those graduated. Key losses include first-team selections Barak Rappley and Karter Massey, second-teamer Hart Hokens and honorable mention recipients Aiden Ostermann and Michael Schiek. 

The Hodags bring back two all-conference players from last year in juniors Asher Rivord and Charlie Johnson. Vojta said he was already familiar with Johnson from their time together at Northland Pines. Johnson played his freshman season there before transferring to Rhinelander while Vojta served as an assistant coach on the Eagles’ staff. Vojta said Johnson has the ability to be a team leader this season.

“I see him being one of the leaders down here watching him growing mature over the years from freshmen to now his junior year, his attitude, his ability and his skills, he’s come light years,” he said.

Junior Aidan Lueder is the only player back who scored multiple goals last year, recording three tallies during the season. Vojta said Lueder, Johnson and Rivord will help solidify the midfield for the team while sophomore Dean Gillingham will play up top as a striker. 

Offensively, Vojta said he wants to be patient and build attacks through possession rather than relying on deep balls and trying to outrun the opponent’s back line. 

“I want them to play possession. I want them to own the game, recognize situations where if we can release a guy, we’ll release him, if we need to keep possession, we keep possession,” he said. “… That is gonna be a working process from U6 all the way to whatever level they hang up their cleats. That’s just soccer. That’s the game of soccer. I’m not a fan of playing kickball, and we need to get out of that mentality.”

On the other end, Vojta said the starting goalkeeper position is up in the air as the season begins after graduating Rappley, who was an all-conference first-teamer at the position last year. 

A rarity for a roster of less than 20, the Hodags have three players jockeying for the starting position there. So far, Vojta said sophomore Caden Ehrhardt and junior Eric Parish are the favorites to earn that position. Ehrhardt saw limited action on varsity last year while Rappley missed some time in concussion protocol. He went 0-2-0 with a 5.33 goals against average and a .647 save percentage.

“There’s some competition there, which is good. One’s a freshman, the other two are competing right now. And they both show signs of brilliance at times, and they got to learn some stuff yet, too,” Vojta said.

Vojta said junior Landon Catlin and sophomore Owen Evers will lead the Hodag back line. Other returning players from last year’s varsity squad including sophomores Roan Childs and Kamden Kostrova.

“Right now, I’m looking at nine guys I know that are starting (with) a couple spots up in the air, Vojta said. “Keeper spot maybe up in the air, and then I’m looking at the bench going, ‘Boy, we really drop off with experience.’ So that’s going to be the challenge.”

The Hodags will start to put together that puzzle tonight as they travel to New London in a rematch of last year’s red card-filled playoff contest won by the Bulldogs 4-1. Rhinelander received two red cards in that match to go along with six yellows. 

“I think New London over the years, we didn’t play them at Pines, but I heard some of the guys saying the other day, we’ve never beat them here from Rhinelander,” Vojta said. “It’s going to be a tough match, and it’s gonna definitely be a gauge of where we’re at. We unfortunate part is, I believe that’s a regional playoff opponent down the road. We don’t want to drop that game. We want to win it. We’re going in to win it, but it’s gonna be a tough day.”

The Hodags are then off until Sept. 4 when they will face defending GNC-champion Lakeland to open conference play at Mike Webster Stadium. With seven of their 10 all-conference picks from last year due back in the line-up, Vojta said that the T-Birds likely enter the season as the team to beat in the conference though Northland Pines — which still has Vojta’s son, Tyler, on the squad — cannot be discounted. 

The Hodags went to Eagle River Saturday to watch Northland Pines’ alumni game. Vojta said getting familiar with opponents will be key for the Hodags this season.

“I’m big on when you walk into a game, you should know, the guy you’re matched up, is he right-footed? Is he left-footed? If you wind up, is he going to turn his back? Is he fast? Is he slow? What are his tendencies? Is he going to play with his back to the goal? Is he not going to open his hips on the touchline,” he said. “So that’s what we’re going to learn, and hopefully back to the soccer IQ, they’ll start thinking like that when they’re watching film and they’re watching other teams.”

Rhinelander’s schedule will mainly consist of GNC opponents this season as, after tonight’s opener, there are only three other non-conference dates. The Hodags will host Wausau East Sept. 6, welcome in Black River Falls and Shawano Sept. 13 during a home quad and travel to Waupaca Sept. 25.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected]. 

TEAM SCHEDULE

Date    Opponent    Time

8/26    at New London    6:30 p.m.

9/4    LAKELAND*    7 p.m.

9/6    WAUSAU EAST    11 a.m.

9/8    MOSINEE*    7 p.m.

9/11    at Medford*    7 p.m.

9/13    HODAG QUAD    11 a.m.

9/16    MERRILL*    7 p.m.

9/18    at Northland Pines    4:30 p.m.

9/23    ANTIGO*    7 p.m.

9/25    at Waupaca    6:30 p.m.

9/30    at Lakeland*    7 p.m.

10/2    at Mosinee*    7 p.m.

10/7    MEDFORD*    7 p.m.

10/9    at Merrill*    7 p.m.

10/14    NORTHLAND PINES*     7 p.m.

10/16    at Antigo*     4 p.m.

10/21    WIAA Regionals    TBA

*Conference games | HOME GAMES IN CAPS