New season, new league.
That’s the motto this year for the Lake Orion varsity boys soccer team. They graduated four starting seniors from last year’s team, including All State goalie Drew White and Michigan’s Mr. Soccer Billy Weaver, and they move up this season to OAA Division I, the state’s toughest league, according to Lake Orion varsity coach Erick Pfeifer.
‘I lost four good seniors,? Pfeifer said. ‘They are a very young team this year…There are only six seniors, and one might not even play. The rest are juniors and there are two sophomores.?
Of the 17 Pfeifer is keeping on this year’s varsity squad, seven are starters. New to the net for Lake Orion is senior Donald Ferguson, a transfer student from Ohio, who replaces White as goalie.
Returning is junior sweeper Michael Zac, junior stopper Sebastien Harris, senior midfielder Jon Potvin, and All State senior Brian Hill, who scored 27 goals last season.
Also back for the Dragons are Mark Thompson, Andy Tonkivich, Brandon Powell, Phillip Lawrence and Kelson Helvic.
Pfeifer said it was too early to tell yet who would pull ahead make a name for themselves on the team. The Dragons played their first regular season game on Aug. 23 against Stoney Creek, and host Troy Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.
‘We had a scrimmage, I got a chance to see some young players and they looked OK,? said Pfeifer. ‘My expectations are, if they finish in the middle of the pack in OAA I, I’ll be happy.?
Pfeifer said with only six teams in OAA I, middle of the pack would still be third or fourth place.
‘Last year Troy Athens finished third and Troy was fourth…and Troy won the state,? he said. ‘It could be anyone.?
Pfeifer said he isn’t letting his team feel too confident, despite finishing with a district championship last season.
‘They don’t know what to expect (in OAA I),? he said. ‘Every game will be like an Athens or Troy game.