By Moses Leos III
It didn’t take long for Hays Rebel head soccer coach Jason Burnett to realize 2016 could be a year of adversity for his ball club.
During team tryouts, senior Jax Kell went down with a knee injury, effectively ending his season. His injury marked the second starter Burnett lost due to a torn knee ligament so far this year.
Issues with players’ grades also became a factor heading into the season as well. While Burnett said this could be the “thinnest year” in terms of players on varsity, he hopes his team can come together to rise above adversity.
“We’re going to try to piece this together and hold on for what we can,” Burnett said. “Hopefully we don’t get too many more [injuries]. I told the boys we’re an injury away from going, ‘who’s next and who do we put in now?’”
Helping Hays in 2016 will be a variety of returning starters. That includes senior Matt Perry, along with senior Tyler McDaniel on the defensive end. On offense, Chase Lindsey also returns, along with James Turner.
But Hays will work in many players who have never played at the varsity level. That includes a brand new crop of goalkeepers.
This despite the caveat that the team’s entire roster is comprised almost entirely of seniors. Sophomore Marco Montoya is the team’s lone underclassman.
To prepare his inexperienced, yet senior laden team, Burnett tells his players that this is their shot to perform.
“I tell them that every game is one game closer to your last. Play it like you know it’s over. That’s it. That your back is against the wall,” Burnett said. “This is all you’re going get. You’re never going to play high school soccer again. What do you want to remember?”
Competing in a tough 14-6A district will also be a challenge for the Rebels. Hays went 1-11-4 in district play last year.
For Burnett, the importance one goal can make is what he is focusing on this season. He said the Rebels lost several games by one goal last season.
“When you look at the record, Hays wasn’t very good,” Burnett said. “But in the box scores, we missed every one of those games by a goal. One goal can make a difference.”
Playing together and as a team is the primary goal Burnett has in mind for his ball club.
Burnett relates his goal to the “rip a phone book in half” mentality.
“I told them it takes every single one of you working together and on the same page because you don’t have that one guy. You don’t have those two guys,” Burnett said. “All we have is you guys. If you all play tough, you are gong to be tough to beat.”
