Submitted Photo – The Eureka Loggers are returning most of the players from last year’s team.
By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers will be hoping to end a two-decade league championship drought in boys soccer this fall.
But the good news is they might just have the talent and leadership to achieve that.
Second-year head coach Tommy Learmouth and his players kicked off the new season with a trip to the Bay Area over the weekend, tying a pair of games.
On Friday, Eureka and Jewish Community played to a 1-1 tie, and the following day the Loggers took on The Bay School at Kezar Stadium and tied 0-0.
The performances themselves were up and down, but, according to Learmouth, the most impressive aspect of the weekend was the manner in which the players held themselves accountable, suggesting this is a mature roster of players that won’t settle for mediocrity.
“I didn’t think we played particularly well, and the team agreed,” Learmouth said of Saturday’s showdown. “They did not play to the standard they hold themselves to. It was really nice to see them take responsibility.”
That’s an attitude and approach to the season that Learmouth has seen from his players — and team leaders in particular — over the past few weeks.
“I like that they’ve bought into the idea that we set last year,” the coach added. “They’re being held accountable, but not by the coaches. They’re holding themselves accountable. They want to succeed. They’re not happy with how we’ve played in the past.”
That leadership starts with a core group of five returners, including senior winger Isaiah Herbst, who scored his team’s only goal of the weekend, rifling home from a Kayan Green free kick in the opening half of Friday’s game.
Green, a junior team captain, also is stepping up as a team leader early in the new campaign and will help anchor the defense alongside fellow junior team leader Luis Gonzalez.
Junior wing backs Grayden Larson and Jerome Everta also are expected to provide some valuable team leadership this fall.
Those key five players are among the “18 or 19” returning players on this year’s roster.
Seniors Junior Patino, Angel Martinez and Sergio Calderon are also back and can all play multiple positions, giving Learmouth and the coaching staff some good options.
Midfielder Lucas Ask also is back after a breakout season last year, as is impressive forward Levi Grossman.
“We’ve got a lot of really good returning players,” Learmouth said.
Among the younger contingent of players on the roster, sophomore Mason Beauchamp solidified himself as the top choice between the posts with a couple of impressive performances over the weekend.
The Loggers wil continue their preparation for the upcoming league campaign when they make the short trip to McKinleyville to play in the Panthers tournament this weekend.
They will play three 60-minute games, opening against St. Bernard’s on Friday evening at 5 p.m.
