STILL WORK TO DO

MEDFORD BOYS SOCCER PREVIEW

Raiders strive to keep playing at high level

As remarkable as last fall’s run to the WIAA state boys soccer tournament was, the Medford Raiders don’t appear to be dwelling on it as they get the 2021 season underway.

They’re striving for more.

With just five seniors lost to graduation –– albeit pretty important players –– from the 2020 squad that finished 10-4-1 overall and lost 3-2 to Roncalli-Two Rivers in the semifinals of the revamped Division 2 WIAA tournament, experience abounds on this year’s club, which numbers 17 strong at the varsity level.

In the off-season, the team played club ball and won big tournaments in Stevens Point and Appleton and got together often to stay sharp and carry momentum into what is hoped to be a full-length season.

“First of all, we wanted to stay humble,” junior co-captain Zach Rudolph said of the team’s off-season. “We still have work to do. We didn’t win (state), so there’s a lot of work left to do. We pride ourselves. We want to hold ourselves to a high standard. That’s basically what it was, making sure we had practices on Sundays, just keeping at it.”

“A lot of the varsity guys, I think all but two, played in the summer league,” senior co-captain Kale Klussendorf said. “Our off-season was strong.”

“It was good, it kept us competitive,” Rudolph added. “We weren’t playing for nothing.”

Third-year head coach Nathan Bilodeau said Monday last week’s first practices were outstanding.

“I believe this week of practice that we had was more focused and more driven than our entire year’s worth of practice last year,” he said. “This group of juniors that we have, which makes up three-quarters of our team is the most dedicated group of soccer players I’ve ever seen. They’ve had a taste of what state looks like and feels like. I think they want to be there again and believe we have the right team to do that. They Raiders expect good season

want to push each other and hold each other accountable and hold everyone to a high standard and it shows in practice.”

The Raiders were a bit disappointed to start their season Tuesday with a 0-0 tie at Baldwin-Woodville. A good opening week of competition continues tonight, Thursday, with a 6:30 p.m. game at Appleton Xavier and Saturday’s home opener, a triangular with New London and Wisconsin Rapids that starts at 10 a.m.

Great Northern Conference play starts Tuesday with a big 7 p.m. earlyseason showdown at Raider Field between the Raiders and last year’s league champion, Rhinelander.

Since he took over in 2019, Bilodeau said the roster has shifted from one that was built around defense to one, this year, that could be led by its offense. Medford returns three of its four leading goal scorers from a year ago in senior Gage Neubauer (eight goals), Rudolph (six) and Klussendorf (five). Junior midfielder Aaron Schield led the Raiders with six assists last year and Rudolph had four.

Bilodeau said he expects Rudolph, Schield and junior Silas Wipf to be “the meat and potatoes of our team. They’re going to be the heart of our team in how we possess and how we make plays happen.”

Who plays the center, wing or striker positions is something that will be determined as the season progresses, but with players like Neubauer, Klussendorf, seniors Quinton Tlusty and Gabe Felix and junior Vincent Seidel on hand, the Raiders expect to be a team opponents won’t be able to shut down.

“Our focus is more on a possession and offensive mindset for our team because we have to play to the strength of our players,” Bilodeau said. “The formation you use is kind of dictated by the team you’ve got. This year as we’re looking at formations, we’re looking at not necessarily keeping the same one that we used last year and maybe changing things just because we have some more offensive-minded players.”

The Raiders averaged a modest 2.5 goals per game a year ago. Their drive to state was driven by the defense. Medford allowed just 14 goals in 15 games played and seven of those came in back-to-back losses to Lakeland when a batch of players, including goal keeper Brady Hupf, were quarantined or injured. In fact, Medford shut out seven straight opponents before its loss at state. The Raiders bring back experienced defensemen like seniors Brayden Machon and Sam Blair and juniors Braeden Long and Caden Tessmann. They’ll help protect Medford’s new goal keeper, junior Jake Dassow, who did get one win last year during the week of quarantines, helping Medford beat Columbus Catholic 2-1. According to his teammates and Bilodeau, he’s ready for the challenge.

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“Jake D. really stepped it up this summer,” Klussendorf said. “He knows this year, if we want to be a state level team, he has to step up,” Bilodeau said. “He has to make some saves, he has to be dedicated and be focused, and he is. Every practice, he’s like ‘what can I be doing better? What can I work on? How can I be more involved? Even if I’m not touching the ball, how can I be more involved in the play?’” Juniors Nick Kowalski and Mason Gripentrog step up to the varsity level this year and also figure to be in the defensive mix. Adyn Gripentrog and Gerardo Estrada are more

Aaron Schield gets between Zach Rudolph and Vincent Seidel to take control of the soccer ball during a competitive fouron- four contest in Medford’s varsity practice Thursday afternoon. The Raiders have high hopes for 2021 coming off their WIAA state tournament appearance last fall.