Former Graceland All-American guides Panthers

Ten lettermen and two new coaches are on hand as the Creston boys soccer team looks to rebound from an 0-14 season in 2011.

"I told them, we are not going to lose all the games," said first-year head coach Jesus Rodriguez. "Not the way we're going to play."

Rodriguez, a former Graceland University standout player and assistant coach there when the Yellow Jackets won an NAIA national championship in 2006, emphasizes an aggressive, attacking offense and zone defensive scheme designed for players to cover for each other.

After playing high school soccer in Brownsville, Texas, Rodriguez played for Graceland coach Ivan Joseph, who frequently worked with Creston players under the coaching regime of Bob Irr and Steve Bossenberger.

In fact, Rodriguez was a teammate of Steven Irr of Creston, and coached Kevin Irr, who now starts for the Yellow Jackets.

"Ivan Joseph was my mentor," Rodriguez said. "He mostly focused on team chemistry. He was so smart. Discipline is big. You are always a student first, and then an athlete."

Rodriguez was a three-time NAIA All-American player at Graceland, scoring 53 career goals as a front striker. He and wife Magi are the parents of two daughters, ages 7 and 2. He is employed as English Language Learner (ELL) coordinator in Creston schools, and a physical education instructor for Prescott schools.

The new assistant coach is PE and health instructor Lucian Diaconu, a native of Romania who brings a specialty background to the program.

"Lucian was a goalie, so he works with the goalies on the boys and girls teams," Rodriguez said. "He's a good asset, because not everybody knows how to coach goalies."

On the field, many successful Graceland concepts will be stressed.

"I love organized soccer," Rodriguez said. "Yesterday we had them in lanes, introducing the zone defense in several drills. It's like a piston, as one moves here, another moves there. Eventually, you will see the whole team moving together. That's my goal."

Aggressive style

Look for quick passing and lots of movement offensively, and plenty of shots on goal.

"I tell them, I'll never be mad at them for shooting," Rodriguez said. "If they give you half a second to take a shot, take it. The quicker you shoot, the harder it is for the goalie. When you take more touches, he can set himself to block that shot. They're getting used to the mentality that we have to shoot, and use space."

In early practices, the new Panther coaches have been evaluating skills through quick-paced five-on-five competitions.

One of the top threats from the center midfielder position will be senior Brad Weis.

"He has a cannon," Rodriguez said, describing Weis' long-range shooting ability.

Other center mids working on the varsity so far include Gavin Leith, Trevor Frain and Josh Sawtelle. On the outside are midfielders Levi Eblen, McClain Haines and Conner Pals.

Freshman Tayler Pettit, brother of Graceland JV player Tyler Pettit, is among the early-season defenders along with Alex Tamerius, Kolby Shaw, Kevin Pellman and Avery Ibbotson.

Working at goalkeeper are Austin Hurt, Alex Nielsen, Jake Miller and Kenny Wynn.

Looking to put pressure on opposing defenses are forwards Ben Landers, Juwan Parrish, Dusty Hallett, Kruz Adamson and Skylar Cook. All have varsity experience and good speed, Rodriguez noted. Landers earned all-conference honorable mention last year.

Monday opener

The team opens at 6:30 p.m. Monday at home against Missouri Valley, after the 5 p.m. girls contest.

Prior to that is a tuneup scrimmage Friday against a Waukee team that includes former Panther coach Steve Bossenberger as an assistant.

While the Panthers were winless last year, four of the 14 defeats were by one goal, including a pair of 2-1 matches to start the season. West Central Valley beat Creston 3-0 in the substate semifinals. It was a rebuilding campaign, after 12 seniors were lost from the 11-6 squad in 2010.

Seniors lost from last year's team include Kolton Thatcher (second team All-Hawkeye 10), Austin Bolinger (honorable mention all-conference), Alex Stoll, Chad Miller, Jordan Leach, Jenno Saturno, Mark Gribbins and Will Reasoner.

The schedule will be tough again, as league champion Glenwood (14-4) played in the state tournament. Also, Carroll Kuemper is coming off an 11-3 season, and Denison-Schleswig was 10-4. Glenwood returns two all-conference players, and Lewis Central returns outstanding junior Miguel Ramos after last year's 9-8 season.

Denison is Creston's first conference opponent in a home match on April 12.

Roster

(* — Letterman)

Seniors — *Ben Landers, Darren Wilker, *Dusty Hallett, *Juwan Parrish, *Kolby Shaw, *Brad Weis, Jalen Sawtelle, Cody Raddatz.

Juniors — Aaron Shaw, *Austin Hurt, Avery Ibbotson, *Josh Sawtelle, Kenneth Wynn, Kevin Pellman.

Sophomores — Alex Chapman, Caleb Cramer, Gavin Leith, *Kruz Adamson, Levi Eblen, Matthew Brownrigg, *Michael Walsh, *Skylar Cook, Trevor Frain, Zack Peppmeier, Jacob Geary, Joshua Conour.

Freshmen — Alex Tamerius, Alex Nielsen, Brant Hudson, Conner Pals, Garret Geary, Jake Miller, Kaleb Cook, Kyle Jennett, McClain Haines, Tayler Pettit, Dorian Peterson, Tyler Helm, Tyson Tucker.

Coaches: Jesus Rodriguez, head coach; Lucian Diaconu, assistant coach.