The 2008 season was frustrating on many accounts for the Douglas High boys' soccer team.
It seemed every time the Tigers had a chance to take control of its own destiny late in the year, another key player would go down with an untimely injury.
Then there was the matter of the five league losses, including three important ones down the stretch, coming by a deficit of just one goal.
They missed the playoffs for the first time in six years after facing up against the deepest group of Sierra League teams in the history of the division.
But the upside was that the team pulled through a category rebuilding year with a .500 record and 11 lettermen, seven of which started last season, back for 2009.
"We have the potential to do very well this season," Douglas coach Milko Vasquez said. "We have nine seniors, we just need those people to be consistent and step up. The younger kids are working very hard and I am very happy with them. Overall, I'm happy with who we have out there."
Douglas still has a remnant of players left from its 2007 Northern 4A champion and state runner-up squad, including forward/midfielder Edgar Arceo, who may just be one of the most electrifying players in state this year.
Arceo has 39 goals and 20 assists in three years as a starter for Douglas and has an outside shot at the school's career record (60, Mike Gransbery, 2004-06) with a solid year this year.
Gransbery, as it so happens, is assisting Vasquez along with another former player, Chase Zumpft, this season.
"I have great staff support this year," Vasquez said. "Those guys have so much to show them. They are working with them a lot and teaching them."
Other holdovers from the 2007 squad include defender Brian Randall, who earned second-team all-league honors last year, goalie Ivan Gonzalez and midfielder/goalie Corbin Zumpft.
Other key returning seniors will be defender Tyler Bankofier, forward Cole Cline, midfielder Luke Prinz, defender Fernando Ramos and midfielder Edgar Gonzalez. Juniors Gavin Fitzhugh and Kegan Rahe return as well.
"Tyler Bankofier is going to be big on defense," Vasquez said. "We need two strong people in the middle and if he raises his game and gets to the point I think he can, I think he and Brian will be very formidable back there."
Ivan Gonzalez has also impressed early on.
"He's come up with some big saves and kept his composure back there," Vasquez said. "He had a big save at the end (against Reno) that I was sure would go in.
"Credit the whole defense too. They have been trying to be disciplined and not play in the back. We've had some breakdowns, but overall we have been playing very consistent."
Ramos and Fitzhugh and junior Troy Cohee have seen most of the playing time on the right and left side for the defense so far this season.
Outside of that, Douglas has welcomed in a large number of first-year varsity players. Including Cohee, the Tigers have eight newcomers, including four underclassmen and three freshmen.
"That's one thing I really like about this group is there is such an infusion of younger kids," Vasquez said. "They are out there working really hard. Sometimes with the older kids, a certain amount of complacency sets in. We have 19 bodies and that hard work will keep everyone going. It's going to be competitive out there for playing time all year."
The other newcomers include juniors Rafael Alves, Asher Moody and Justin Draper, who already has two goals on the year, sophomore Scott Chandler and freshmen Jake Passas, Audrick Anderson and Jaden Mustachio.
"Audrick has the potential to be a very special kid," Vasquez said. "He's holding the ball and creating chances for us. It's good to see.
"Overall, we are coming together and starting to play very well. We have to be more forward-minded in terms of keeping the ball up top and playing it instead of getting desperate. If we just hold the ball a little longer, I think we'll get more clear shots.We have to grow as a team still, but we are creating chances for ourselves and working hard. We'll get there."
Joey Crandall can be reached at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.
