As the sun set and the stadium lights flickered on last Saturday, the EHS Boys Soccer team took the pitch for their annual Orange and Black scrimmage.

Although an additional goal was scored and not reported, the game resulted in a 1-0 varsity win. 

Varsity coach Mark Heiderscheid said it was a “great battle by JV.” 

According to senior varsity goalie, Nathan Beck, “It [the scrimmage] was a good test for both varsity and JV. We got to have a good run with each other. Especially at the beginning of the season… it’s good to just get minutes under our belts.”

After COVID regulations prevented crowds last season, spectators were allowed at the scrimmage this season. 

“We were kinda getting out the jitters for our first time kinda playing in front of a crowd in a while,” senior captain Ben Loftus said. “Even just taking a year off … I definitely was a little bit nervous on Saturday. And I think the whole team was a little bit nervous.” 

Although some players were nervous about the crowd, others enjoyed it. “I think it raises everyone’s level,” Beck said. 

The match also revealed skills that the varsity team in particular can work on for the upcoming season. After several losing high goal scorers to college in the past few years, finding scoring opportunities is a top priority.

“We know in this one [season], that’s going to be a thing that we’ll have to address.” Heiderscheid said. “It will happen, but at the beginning of season we’re going to have games where it’s just going to be very challenging.”

Speaking to some varsity players revealed that many have a similar goal this season: to perform well in the state tournament. 

“Of course our main goal to any season is to win the state tournament,” junior Tyler Dacus said. “But first we need to win the metro cup, regionals and sectionals. We have the team to do it and if we can put it all together we should be in for a fun year full of achieving our goals.”

On top of team goals, the players have individual goals for this season. “I just want to play the best I can play and be a good captain to my team,” Loftus said.

Similarly, Dacus wishes to use this season to develop as a player. “With so many great players around me, it’s easy to improve,” he said.

The Tigers took their first step towards the state tournament with a 4-1 victory against Granite City on Monday. They took their second step towards the state tournament with a 1-0 victory against Altoff on Wednesday.