In 29 years, the Douglas boys' soccer team has never had a season quite like this past one.
After advancing to the state semifinals with a senior-laden starting lineup in 2009, the Tigers simply struggled to fill the holes left by the departed starters this year and finished just 1-14-5 overall on the year and 1-12-3 against a powerful Northern 4A slate.
While - by the numbers - it was the worst season in the history of the program, the Tigers come away with plenty of reason for hope, to the extent that they, with the right breaks, could compete for a league title as early as next year.
"It was just one of those unfortunate experiences that kids have to go through," said Douglas coach Milko Vasquez, who resigned the head coach position after 11 years with the program to focus on achieving his doctorate in teaching. "It was a big void that we had to fill coming into this year and a lot of people don't understand that."
"The kids hopes were up about what we could do, but we just didn't have the experience, the pieces needed to do that. We had a new keeper, a totally revamped middle. Everything was new and there was bound to be some difficult growing pains."
Douglas entered the year with only three players with significant starting experience, and all three were having to play in different spots than they did last season.
Even with eight seniors and nine returning lettermen, the team was largely made up of underclassmen.
"The one consistent thing was that the kids were always out there giving it their all, playing hard," Vasquez said. "That's the only way you grow from seasons like this. That's important, because in life you are going to get these situations where you have to be able to persevere.
"They had a tough go, but we weren't too far out and they will get there. They showed they know how to play, it's just a matter of working out the things that need to be remedied.
"There is a lot of talent coming back and it'll be about how they mature as a team. Things like scoring ability, leadership in the back, those are things that only come from experience. In terms of physical prowess, this will be a big, great team coming back.
"We were outmatched a lot of times this year. Teams were just stronger and faster than us. That's something you can't teach, you have to wait for the kids to grow into their bodies. That happens with time.
"The kids coming back are really gung-ho about next year. There are a lot of people trying out for spring clubs. There is some new blood out there, kids looking to get involved. A lot of times, after years like this, participation falters and the team gets a negative outlook. These guys, though, are eager to go and get better. And they will."
Part of the reason for the optimism for next year is that the Tigers had stretches of true brilliance this season, including battling eventual league champion Galena to a scoreless tie and tying playoff qualifier Reno despite playing with only 12 players in that game.
The Tigers also suffered late defeats to playoff teams Wooster (twice) and Hug.
"The seniors, guys like Gavin Fitzhugh, Roy Dornbrook, Asher Moody, Louis Hernandez and Kegan Rahe in particular, they helped bring this team along through the some tough situations," Vasquez said. "We had some moments of brilliance and the success these underclassmen have in the coming years will be traced back to what happened this season."
Seniors Troy Cohee, Justin Draper and Cody Logan were also key parts of the Tiger lineup this season.
While losing eight seniors, all essentially starters at one point or another this year, Douglas does bring a strong group of players back for 2011.
For starters, the team's leading scorer, Daniel Calderon (7 goals, 3 assists), will return along with four of the Tigers' six other goal scorers this season.
Goalkeepers Francisco Sanchez and Jonathan Gomez each saw starting time this season with Sanchez posting a pair of shutouts and Gomez posting a shutout of his own.
Midfielder Audrick Anderson, who missed a big portion of the year with an injury, will be coming into his third year at the varsity level while fellow sophomore Jaden Mustacchio began to come into his own up top as the season progressed.
Jake Passas, Mason Jackson, Scott Chandler, Eric Kleiner, Luis Sillas Gonzalez, Edgar Hernandez and Alex Torres all saw significant playing time during the year as well.
"They stuck with it as a team and that will pay off in the coming years," Vasquez said. "I'll look forward to seeing what they can do."
