Deep bench, lots of talent bode well for CEC soccer

After a season in which their record was below .500, as well as suffering a first-round playoff loss, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team is aiming to bounce back with a team that has a large group of returning athletes.

"Last year we were 7-9-1 and lost in the first round of the section playoffs to Proctor 1-0," said first-year head coach Dave Bergan. "We have 11 returning (varsity) players."

Those returning players include seniors Otto Cockburn, Ryan Conway and Caleb Swanson, along with juniors Spencer Rousseau, Drake Schramm, Nathan Genereau, Tyler Issendorf, Henry Slater, Logan Dushkin and Michael Kayser.

A total of 49 boys in grades 8-12 tried out for the team; they kept 41.

"Since I am new to the program this year, I am not sure what the history has been with numbers," explained Bergan. "We are heavy with juniors (11) this year and have taken a few tenth-graders that I see contributing as well on the field,"

The 'Jacks are loaded with talent in the midfield position with Conway, Swanson, Rousseau, Schramm, Genereau and Dushkin all having played in those slots in the past. Cockburn will help up front in the forward position; and back on defense, fans can look for Kayser, Dushkin, Slater, Issendorf and Conway to all contribute depending on the game.

Bergan explained they aren't committed to playing a certain formation.

"We have to play to the situation as well," he said. "For example, a 4-4-2 doesn't always work against teams. We're gonna go tactically with what works best for that game."

The varsity participated in some preseason scrimmages Saturday in Proctor, and Bergan said it was a good outing, as the team won both of its shortened games against Hibbing and Mesabi East.

"It showed we have a lot of kids that can play soccer, and play well," Bergan said. "I played a lot of kids in different spots to see how they would react to that. It's going to be a matter of putting the pieces of the puzzle together at the right time."

The coaches make a good team too, he said.

To go with the deep bench of players, Bergan has recruited a staff with a lot of coaching knowledge. He is assisted by Lenny Conklin, an experienced soccer coach. John Sundquist is goalie coach, and JV coach Aaron Blanchard has good soccer chops, Bergan said. At least three of them have college-playing experience.

"Our vision is very similar," Bergan said. "We all see the game and agree on the aspects so it's easy to trust that we're all giving the same message. And we're communicating a lot about what we're seeing."

What they are seeing is good.

"The intensity at practice has been amazing," Bergan said. "That shows they're hungry, which is great. I'm looking forward to getting into some games and seeing what happens.

"And they're a great group of boys. I can't say enough about how awesome they are," he added.

The Lumberjacks boys varsity plays its first game against Columbia Heights at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23 at Bromberg Field. They play Chisago Lakes Monday at 4:30 p.m., also at the high school.