Boys Soccer: A season of highlights

Jared Wolt All-Missota Conference (photo by J. Lindquist)

Farmington put together its third straight eight-win season this fall with an 8-5-5 mark and by any measure the 2013 campaign was a success.

The Tigers hosted and won their first-ever section quarterfinal home game and captured their first section semifinal victory to advance to the title game.

Coach Julian Buss' squad also compiled its best section record (4-2-1), received its highest-ever section seed (No. 3), saw its program numbers swell to an all-time high (114 in high school and middle school) and had its game with Burnsville televised on local television.

"This was exactly the kind of season we needed going into the competitive South Suburban Conference next year," Buss said. "I would say the boys and girls soccer programs were a major source of pride at Farmington this year.

"The boys are proud of themselves at all levels of our the program. It has been a blast to see it develop from two levels to four over the past five years."

Buss awarded varsity letters two 22 student athletes for their efforts during the 2013 season, including a large class of a dozen seniors: Caleb Gouchenour, Jeffrey Gutierrez, Hunter Meyers, Rafael Romero, Blake Smith, Jake Spindler, Eric Stoeckmann, Jared Wolt, Michael Bakke, Jon Zakoski, Alex Burton and Carter Lamers.

Underclassmen receiving letters included juniors Robin DeCastro, Matt Dubois, Ryan Parco, Calvin Vue and Elie Kheirallah and sophomores  Jake Agnew, Cody Billins, Jack Fogarty, Ben Sorenson and Colin O'Connor.

MVP Jake Agnew (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Wolt,  the team's top scorer who was named to the State Coaches Association second all-state team, and Myers earned all-conference honors while Smith and Stoeckmann each received all-league honorable mention.

Goalkeeper Agnew who had a goals-against average under 1.00 was the team's Most Valuable Player and Dubois was tabbed as Most Improved Player. Gutierrez received the Coach's Award for attitude and work ethic.

"About the only disappointment was our record (2-2-3) in the conference," Buss said. "We only lost twice but the three ties were tough. That kept us from a higher place in the standings and hurt us in the number of all-conference players we got.

"We feel satisfied, but unsatisfied in a way, too. That hunger is a good thing and I think the boys coming back will be ready for next year."

Speaking of the future, Buss said he thinks the Tiger program is ready for the move to the South Suburban Conference next fall.

"I believe we are ready to compete with the large school programs," he said. "The games should be close like they were this year. We only lost five of 18 games this year and that was because of our new-found competitiveness."

Hunter Meyers All-Missota Conference (photo by Jim Lindquist)