After going 13-10 a year ago in his first season in charge of Joplin soccer, Josh Thompson is looking forward to seeing how his team improves in 2020.
“It meant a lot,” Thompson said of his first year as the head coach. “I had been with the team for three or four years prior to that. Getting to take over for what was my first group of freshmen to seniors, that was a big first year and it really helped me out already having a relationship with the players. There was a little bit of a learning curve, but I had the girls’ team the season before that, so that also helped.”
There were several things to like about the 2019 Joplin Eagles, and that includes their aggressiveness on offense. That mindset is something Thompson wants to see this year’s team carry over into 2020.
“I think we had a good attacking mindset a lot of the time,” Thompson said. “We were able to produce a lot of goals in quite a few games. We did lose our leading scorer from last year, with Rashawn (Davis) leaving, but I think a lot of the younger players who got playing time last year will be able to keep up with that momentum.”
Joplin has eight returning starters along with several others who have varsity experience coming back, which will be a driving force for the Eagles.
“It’s really big (to have that experience returning),” Thompson said. “I am excited about this year, and next year even. We have a really small senior class, and even though those guys will be really influential for us, that means these next two years we have junior and senior classes that will have a ton of experience. Especially this junior class, a lot of them have been getting varsity time since their freshman year and starting since their sophomore year.”
The Eagles have four seniors — F Brady Carter, M Connor Simon, D Josh Yarnall and D/F Preston Stockton — eight juniors, eight sophomores and two freshmen this season.
“Brady Carter is coming back to the team for the first time since his freshman year,” Thompson said. “He has a lot of speed and talent up top, and he has a nose for the goal. We are excited to see what he can do. Connor Simon has been starting games for us since his freshman year. Josh Yarnall is really our only returning starter from the back line. He was a captain last year, and he will help anchor the defense.”
Joplin’s junior class is made up of D/M Grayson Stovern, M Dilan Sanchez, M/F Andrew Taylor, M Roberto Reyes, M Eric Nelson, F Gabe DeLeon, D Abe Montanez and D Noah Pearson.
It will be a new look in goal for the Eagles this season, as an injury will force a first-year player with the program to be tasked with limiting the oppositions’ scoring opportunities to open the year.
“We are going to have a freshman starting in goal to start the season,” Thompson said. “Brayden Anderson is starting out in goal, so that is a big responsibility for a freshman to come in and step up to that. He has been eager to give it a shot.”
Of course, with the inexperience in goal for Joplin, the Eagles will rely on its biggest strength to take pressure off Anderson as he gets his feet wet at the varsity level.
“The group that we have, the players that we have, they all just get along,” Thompson said. “They have been playing together for a long time. (Our strength) is going to be unity and that team mentality. I think that will take us a long way. We have a lot of resilience with this group.”
“I am really excited because we have a lot returning in the midfield and on the attack,” Thompson added. “And the defense, for how much turnover we have from a year ago, I am excited to see what the group will do.”
Joplin opens the season on the road with a 6:30 p.m. matchup at Carl Junction on Sept. 1.
