~by Taylor Teays for The Scranton Journal
The spring sports season brings Ram soccer into play, with coach Carl Behne leading the team for his sixth year on the sidelines, seventh year overall due to the 2020 pandemic.
Last season, the team made their third state soccer appearance in five attempts, and Behne looks for a strong show this year, saying, “By far this year, we will have the most returning starters and starters with multiple year varsity experience. Last year, 20 goals-scoring senior, Jose Velazco and 42 goal-scoring junior Gesser Aguilar led the pace offensively, with a strong defensive back line anchored by three returning starters helping to keep pressure off three-year starting goalie Gabe Ebersole, who had another great year in goal as well.”
This year, Behne looks to Cody Allen and Nathan Behne to lead the team. Allen and Behne will return as captains and set a tone of demanding winning and competing, while a third captain is sure to surface the first week or so of practice. “Overall, we have great informal leadership on the pitch as well, leading to great communication and teamwork across the starting lineup and beyond.”
High goal scoring and strong defensive style of play, with a combination of better flow and continuity than before can be expected from the Rams this season. “Anything but a trip to state and winning at the tournament will be seen as an underperformance for this group. The potential with this group to win a title has never been higher other than maybe our missed Covid-19 year,” added coach Behne.
The team will focus on staying healthy and not being overconfident. “The focus needs to be improving before, during and after each match. If we do this, we will grow in a way that will set us up for success late in the season.”
Behne commented on the season schedule, saying “Conference matches against strong teams like Nevada and Perry always get us a little extra excited as well as the high level competition we play in the Nevada tournament. Des Moines Christian is always a team we circle as a good test of where we are in the season.”
“These seniors I have coached in soccer (and other sports) since the fall of 2023 and I am excited and blessed to still be their coach. I love coaching all of these guys and the relationship we have is certainly something extra special,” Behne. “Coach (Chad) Black and I have coached since the beginning of the program in Jefferson and I am honored to have such a determined and committed assistant. We make a great team and complement each other’s strengths and gaps.”
The Rams will kick off their season on Saturday at Denison High School. Next week, the Rams will travel to Boone on Tuesday, March 26, and will host West Marshall on Thursday, March 28.
