The Alexandria boys soccer team is eyeing a postseason run in Brandon Johnson’s third year as head coach with 11 seniors on the varsity roster.
Led by captains Colin Reily, Thomas Klecker, Myles Sansted and junior Jack Carlson, the Cardinals are loaded with experience at almost every position on the field.
“Our biggest strength is the amount of seniors we have,” senior goalkeeper Ryan Meuwissen said. “I think we are all on the same page and have the same goals for this season. We want to go to state. We want to be ourselves and play our game. We don’t want to stoop down to other teams’ levels. We are going to have team film sessions to see what we can do better and to make these goals happen.”
The Cardinals are moving up a class, but will play the same teams this fall as they have in past seasons. The Minnesota State High School League added a third class to boys soccer, which slated Alexandria in the middle group of 64 teams.
Alexandria will play in Section 8AA with East Grand Forks, Detroit Lakes, Rocori, Little Falls, Sauk Rapids-Rice, St. Cloud Apollo and St. Cloud Tech.
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“I think this is a huge win for the program and programs across the state,” Johnson said of adding a third class to the sport. “I think this is going to create more equal matches, which is a better experience for everybody. I think that’s more fun for the players, parents and the communities when you have that parity. You go in with a lot more hope when you play schools comparable in size.”
The team to beat in Section 8AA is St. Cloud Tech. Alexandria hasn’t beaten the Tigers since the 2017 season, but the Cardinals are hoping to write a new ending with a promising squad.
ALEXANDRIA BOYS SOCCER VARSITY ROSTER
SENIORS- Ryan Meuwissen, Tyler Bright, Bjorn Karlstad, Colin Reilly, Holden Hansen, Thomas Klecker, Myles Sansted, Peter Sansted, Samuel Peterson, Alex Gerseth, Taeren Peterson; JUNIORS- Bryce Paffrath, Jack Carlson; SOPHOMORES- Cole Haabala, Joaquim Ramos; FRESHMEN- Otto Anderson
ALEXANDRIA BOYS SOCCER SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 vs. Detroit Lakes, 2 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Fergus Falls, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 vs. Pelican Rapids, 7 p.m.
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Sept. 7 vs. St. Cloud Apollo, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 vs. St. Cloud Tech, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Sartell, 5 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Willmar, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Sauk Rapids, 5 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. East Grand Forks, 5 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. Brainerd, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Rocori, 5:30 p.m.
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Sept. 30 at St. Cloud Apollo, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Little Falls, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 at St. Cloud Tech, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Sartell, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Bemidji, 1 p.m.
Oct. 14 Section quarterfinals, TBD
