It may have taken the Bluejay soccer team until the last conference game of the season to pick up a Valley win, but the strong work they showed in several close losses didn’t go unnoticed from the WVC coaches.
Four members of the MHS squad received some level of All-Conference honor.
Senior forward Austin Hass was named to the Second Team, while senior midfielder/forward Paul Theorin, junior midfielder David Pophal and junior defenseman Dalton Wilding all earned Honorable Mention.
“Austin started slow but pulled through as the season progressed and became one of our best offensive players,” MHS assistant Brandon Brunett said. “His speed and placement helped him a lot. He doesn’t have a powerful shot. He could work the ball, it stuck to his foot sometimes. Austin was one who would work back to the ball when we needed it almost as a midfielder.
“Paul was a solid all-around player. He was always able to find the right pass and always had his head up, kind of like the point guard in basketball. He was always working his butt off. He never wanted to quit. If he had to come out for an injury, you knew it had to be pretty bad. Once we made him a captain midway through the season, he took it and did very well with it. The team was tuned in to what he was doing.
“I don’t think David had his best year. He played good enough, but he could have played better. He’s got the biggest leg on the team, by far. Because he could kick the ball into the box from half field we had a few more goals. Him and Paul were similar in that he will take control. He’s just a solid all-around player. He will get back on ‘D’ and he will push forward. He’s very strong. He always wanted the ball. A center-midfielder should want the ball.
“Dalton had an outstanding year. He grew up a lot. He got bigger, faster, stronger. He probably played the most of anybody. He could play the entire game and not get tired. Once we put him in the middle at sweeper, it helped our defense a lot. Dalton seemed to be more physical and he timed everything better. He took the right angles. Compared to last year, he improved 100%. He’s not a big guy, but he can hold his own. This whole year, he never quit. He gives 110% every game. Without him back there on defense, we wouldn’t be as solid.”