Scrimmages give experience to Demons, Trojans, Panthers

Soccer at the high school level last year consisted of signing up for the team. The coronavirus kicked school doors closed and eliminated spring sports before the season could get started practicing.

Sophomores out for soccer this year are at the freshmen level for experience. Scrimmages can help athletes know what to expect in the regular season at a new level of competition.

Scrimmages also help coaches fortify a possible starting lineup.

Boys teams from area schools scheduled scrimmages - practice matches - the last two days. Mt. Pleasant traveled to Oskaloosa Tuesday for a scrimmage while Fairfield and Washington scrimmaged Monday.

The regular season starts for Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield Monday. Mt. Pleasant hosts Columbus at East Lake Park while Fairfield travels to Pella. Washington's first match is at Highland Thursday. Mt. Pleasant was 13-6 in 2019 and lost a substate final while Fairfield was 10-7 and Washington was 3-12.

'We have lots to work on until our first game,” Fairfield head coach Felisto Guezimane said. 'It was a good game and it gave us an opportunity to see where we need improvements.”

The Trojans went to the RecPlex in West Burlington to scrimmage Notre Dame and lost 4-1. It was 2-0 at the half.

The score was of little importance to the Trojans because the chance to experiment was available.

'We tried a couple of formations on in each half,” Guezimane said. Juan Rojo was the standout player, with the pass that provided the assist to Xavier Kapijimpanga's goal. 'Kyle Jeffrey also had a good game. Goal keeper Kyle Schubick had some good saves. Out of our freshmen, Cooper Polonsky, Carter Moore, and Carter Stark showed some potential. '

It was their first full field practice of the season so far since the Fairfield practice fields have been too wet to play on.

'Ten minutes into the second half my boys' legs where shot,” Guezimane said. 'But at least it gave me a chance to get a look at the freshman.”

Demons head coach Sally Hart convinced the Cardinals to travel 100 miles to Washington for a scrimmage.

'We were pleased to host Newton, they're always a competitive team,” Hart said. Newton has not had a losing season since 2012 and was 10-9 in 2019.

'Scrimmages like this are important so new athletes get some experience on the field before we kick off the regular season matches,” Hart said. 'We saw some great moments, and we saw what we'll need to address in practice before our first game Thursday.”

Hart has a number of positions to be decided as starters before Thursday, including who will patrol the net.

'At the scrimmage, we were able to get all three of our goalies - DaShaun Westphal Edwards, Will Gilchrist Brock, Cole Anderson - in the net and each had great saves,” Hart said.