Fall is here, and what does that mean? Well, besides football, soccer is also prevalent. The soccer program has begun to quickly develop, becoming a favorite school sport.

The different levels in both boys and girls soccer have matured, and the quality of play has greatly improved.

Mr. Soltmann, the boys’ varsity head coach, was nice enough to take some time out of his day for an interview. When asked about the different aspects of the game and the players themselves, here were his responses.

Trailblazer: Reflect back on the season. What do you wish your team could have done better? What, in general, were you content with?

Mr. Soltmann: I still contend that we could be a better team this year, but we do not always come out hard.  In many games we let the other team dictate the pace initially, then we settled into our game.  I am never content; if we win or lose, I want to push the boys to play 80 minutes of their best soccer.  I have been happy to see the brilliance of their game develop here and there, but I am still holding out for their best.

T: What are your expectations for the next few games?

JS: I hope that these next few games allow us to settle into our game so that we enter the State tournament next week at our peak game.  Regardless of what has happened this season so far, it all starts anew next week.

T: What are your expectations for next year?

JS: Next year we are changing leagues, so the demands on all of us will go up significantly.  We need to be physically at our peak in the off-season so that we can really focus on elevating our game next year.  I intend to compete in the new league; I am not going to accept being just another team.  There is so much potential still here in Hills Soccer.

T: What are you going to miss the most about this season? What in particular made this season so special or unique?

JS: I always hate to see the end of the season.  It means that I am saying goodbye to seniors that I have watched develop for 4 years.  It means that I don’t see the team, as that particular team, ever again.  It means that I have to wait 9 months to start over again. In particular though, I will remember the time we would spend talking, especially on bus trips.  I will remember how well we played in certain games, such as Harrison and Glen Rock.  Every season is special and unique because the chemistry of the team changes every year.  This was a special group of young men.  Of course, I will remember them.