Down With Defense, Parkway West Soccer Looks Forward in 2011

Four years ago, in coach Michael Skordos’ first season, Parkway West got its long-awaited taste: A 21-6-1 record, and the school’s first district soccer championship in nearly two decades.

And just like that, the Longhorns paid the piper. The squad was wiped clean by graduation, replaced by youth and inexperience, and once again sent down to the mires of the Suburban South. Last season, West went 7-18-1 and rallied for just one win in the conference, which was a 1-0 victory against a winless University City team.

But in 2011, the replacements are starting to come of age. And despite what the record showed, last season might have been the shift of gears.

“We felt we were always in every game, Eighteen of our games were decided by one goal,” Skordos said. “So we know that we can hang with just about every team, now it’s just a matter of scoring.

“And that’s been our focus this year. We’ve got a new practice surface—field turf—in the stadium, and the group has been excited about how we’re able to play, able to move the ball around on the field. We’re playing at a different pace, and it’s exciting.”

Indeed, the defensive-minded Longhorns averaged below two goals allowed per game last season (1.7), but could only muster a 1.2 goal average on their side of the scoreboard. And if the squad figured out it could hang with most teams last year, six seniors return to the back rank to close off their net even further. Charlie Stankovic, Harrison Klemm and Tommy Keenan each return, as does third-year varsity players Harrison Wright, Mark Krebs and Tyler McMullin.

“These kids have played for the past two years working together, and now it’s finally their time to shine,” Skordos said.

“It was just a matter of getting a bit more confidence, knowing that we can play together as a team. And now we’re encouraging them to start getting into offensive mode: shoot when they have the opportunity.

“I think our defense has always been strong. Now, we’re getting into that mindset ‘let’s go forward and start attacking.’”

That offensive push will begin with junior midfielders Kevin Doherty and Tyler Rhoads, who each return for a third varsity season. They will look ahead toward a pair of sophomore forwards, twins Nick and Chandler Klemm, each in their second varsity year. Chandler was second on last year’s squad with 7 goals and 15 points, and each scored a goal early this season.

So far in the 2011 season, West seems to be finding what they seek. The squad is 2-2, with a 1-0 loss to highly-regarded Hazelwood West.

The Longhorns will compete in the 7th annual Gateway Soccer Classic in St. Louis at the end of September, which features 60 high school teams from across the nation.