Team: Lansing High School boys’ soccer
Last year's record: 12-4-1
Coach: Randy Brown
Coach's record: 114-59-6
Key returners: Chris Rathjen, senior forward. Rathjen had 16 goals and nine assists for the Lions last year and was voted first-team All-Kaw Valley League and all-region and was also honorable mention all-state. Rathjen’s a team captain for 2010. Josh Wepking, senior goalkeeper. Wepking had six shutouts last season and averaged eight saves per game. In three overtime games in 2009, Wepking never lost, including twice when the Lions were a man down. Wepking is also a team captain for 2010. Alex Buehler, senior midfield. Buehler scored two goals and had two assists last season while working with first-team all-state player Phillip Nelson who had now graduated. Buehler will also serve as a team captain this season.
Newcomers to watch: Nate Runyon, senior midfield, goalkeeper. Runyon transferred to Lansing after playing goalkeeper at his previous school, but Brown said he’s likely to provide some speed to the outside midfield for the Lions this season while providing a solid secondary goalkeeping option. Andy Ericks, freshman midfield. Ericks brings a lot of talent to the squad as he’s been playing in the Junior Wizards program. Ericks packs good speed and skills and Brown looks for him to be an impact player all four years he’s at Lansing.
Team Outlook:
Strengths — We have solid experience at goalkeeper, midfield, and with the forwards. Our young defense learned a great deal from last year about game conditions.
Weaknesses — Our primary weakness is the defensive changes we have to make to replace the graduation of our two first-team all-region and honorable mention all-state players (Gage Thackston and Jason Wahaus). Although our entire team needs to grow and gel together, the defensive back line will have the steepest learning curve.
Big games: Louisburg at Lansing on Aug. 27, Topeka Seaman at Lansing on Sept. 7 and Mill Valley at Lansing on Sept. 30
Coach says: “We will have a good team. We are looking forward to defending our Kaw Valley League championship and competing for a region championship. We have some tough games at the beginning of the season, but fortunately most are home games. Regardless of the outcomes, those games will help us grow into a better team.” - Brown on his 2010 Lions’ squad.
