Douglas High School boys' soccer coach Milko Vasquez knew heading into the 2006 season that his team would be very young.
He never doubted for a second, however, that his team would be ready to take on the best Northern Nevada had to offer.
"They're young, there was no question about that, but they came into this year with a lot of experience," Vasquez said. "They have a lot of years playing this game.
"It was one of those situations where they all grew up in an environment where they were playing competitive soccer for quite a while. They were already mature at the beginning of the year."
The Tigers went a long way toward proving their coach right early on, taking four victories, three against 2005 regional playoff teams, to open the year at the Elko Invitational.
In fact, Douglas ran off an impressive 6-0 start to the season, outscoring its opponents 28-6 during that run.
It was a trend that would hold throughout the year as the offensive-minded Tigers proceeded to tally 81 goals on the year as a team while compiling a 15-6-2 record overall. Douglas topped High Desert League champion McQueen in the first round of the Northern 4A Regional playoffs before bowing out to eventual regional champ South Tahoe in the semifinals.
Leading the charge for the Tigers this season was a pair of senior Mikes playing forward.
Mike Gransbery broke the school record for goals in a career (60) and came in No. 3 on the list in state 4A play for goals in a season with 29. He also chipped in nine assists on the year.
Playing opposite Gransbery was Michael Barnes, who punched in 16 goals and had 10 assists.
"Mike and Michael were really outstanding this season," Vasquez said. "Gransbery was obviously steady and productive, but Barnes really showed himself in those critical games toward the end of the season when our numbers were low.
"He was huge for us. He had four or five game-winners. Without him, we wouldn't have had as much success late in the year as we did."
Not to be lost in the offensive barrage was assist wizard Eddie Vega.
"Eddie is by far one of the best U16-17 players in the area," Vasquez said of Vega who led the team in assists with 13 and had six goals on the year as well. "He has that total command of the field. His vision, his temperament during the game, he is just a complete package.
"He can actually beat players that are faster than him on a 50/50 ball. He just knows how to be there first. It's not that he's that fast, he is just quick to the ball and he has that timing that you just can't teach."
As a team, Douglas got goals from 13 of its 19 players.
"They were just so unselfish, the whole group," Vasquez said. "When it came to scoring, it didn't matter who was there, they found the open man and it worked out well for us.
"You try to instill that in your teams, but these guys just came by that sacrificial style of play naturally."
Vaquez credited a number of his role players for the offense's sharp success this season.
"You have guys like (goalkeeper) Jose (Alcaraz), (defender/midfielder) Ross Gardner and (midfielder) Oscar Gonzalez who just go out and do their jobs every game," he said. "They were so consistent, which was a huge factor in freeing Eddie up to get our offense started. It truly was a team effort."
Vasquez also pointed out freshman Edgar Arceo (nine goals, seven assists) who made the switch from forward to defense late in the year due to an injury-depleted defensive backfield.
He said defenders Kyle Mannschreck, Kyle Gardner and Derik Cantley were exceptional in back.
"The defense was a team effort," Vasquez said. "The only thing I was worried about early on was that we would have to make an adjustment to the physicality of the league. I think that showed as our injuries started to pile up.
"But fortunately we had the numbers to compensate for that this season. When things got tough, it was great for us to come back from such a tremendous disadvantage."
One such example was standout transition defender Ray Kaffer going down midway through the year and Geoff Rahe, who missed the first part of the season with a nagging knee injury, stepping up to make an impact late in the year.
"Geoff would have been a starter at the beginning of the year, but he was fighting some injuries," Vasquez said. "He really showed that he was a true starter in the second half and he had some solid games.
"We lost a great player in Ray. He is such a great transition player and we he went down, we didn't really have another fullback that could bring the ball forward like he could. He was greatly missed when he went down."
The Tigers lose Gransbery, Barnes, Mannschreck and Cantley out of their starting lineup and solid sub Jeff Husley (one goal, one assist) but will return Vega, Gonzalez, both Gardners, Arceo, Rahe, Kaffer and Alcaraz.
Also coming back will be utility player Brian Jaggard, defender Dustin Goldade, midfielder Robbie Forest, Andrew Andraski, Jeff Crozier and Jake O'Farrell.
"Good things will come next year," Vasquez said. "There is a strong foundation in place."
DOUGLAS
SEASON WRAP-UP
Finish: Northern 4A Regional semifinalists; Sierra League 4th place.
Record: 15-6-2 overall, 8-5-1 Sierra League.
MVP: Mike Gransbery, F, sr. Gransbery broke the school record for goals in a career with 60 and came just short of the school, regional and state records for goals in a season at 29. He also had nien assists on the year. He played the final two weeks of the season with a broken toe.
Gamebreaker: Michael Barnes, F, sr. No one had more game-winning goals down the stretch than Barnes. Drawing off the coverage on Gransbery, Barnes made the most of his sharp one-timers, scoring 16 goals on the season. He also had 10 assists.
Unsung hero: Eddie Vega, M, jr. Vega led the team in assists (13) but also had a remarkable knack for winning 50/50 chances and creating solid scoring chances for the Tigers' potent offense. Worked well in open space and had a creativity with the ball that kept opposing defenses befuddled.
Most Improved: Jose Alcaraz, G, jr. Alcaraz didn't even make his first start in net until well into the season, but made the gradual progression from a solid to sensational keeper through the final few weeks of the year.
Best game: Douglas 2, McQueen 1, OT shootout, Oct. 28. The first-round upset continued a long trend of close playoff games for the Tigers. It was an epic battle that saw several Tigers grit through injuries to pick up the win.
Starters lost: 4.
Returners for 2007: 8 starters, 7 reserves.
-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.
