I.C. West soccer solid despite losses

IOWA CITY - Even at seven-time state champion Iowa City West, graduation takes a toll on the boys' soccer team.

After two consecutive state titles, the Trojans were nearly starting from scratch in putting together this year's team.

Despite the loss of several dynamic offensive players, the defense was really the big question.

'I remember one of my former players asking me, ‘Who's going to play in the back' going into the season, and my one-word response was ‘Jack.' Jack Olson. In early March, that's about as much as I knew,” West Coach Brad Stiles said.

Olson was the sole returning starter in the back line. He is joined this season by Anthony Pottratz, Ryan Collins and talented junior Nick Andersen.

Goalie Zach Serovy served an apprenticeship to three-year starter Ryan Holte and was ready to take over. But the questions remained. At least until the season started.

West is 11-0 after Saturday's 2-1 defeat of Bettendorf. In its first eight games, it allowed only two goals.

'Extremely and pleasantly surprised,” Stiles said of his reaction.

'They've played a lot of club soccer together over the years. They know where they should be and when they should be (there) and, with this group, probably why they should be there.”

The team has built a level of trust that allows them to concentrate on their own jobs and thus stay in proper position.

The keeper position at West has been manned by a series of top-flight players. Andy Holte, an all-stater in 2010, held the position two seasons.

He was preceded by all-stater Kyle Zobeck, who was good enough to reach the MLS. Doug Miller preceded Zobeck. Serovy said he felt no extra pressure taking over such a storied position.

'It's kind of helped me in the long run because I've trained with them a lot,” Serovy said.

Stiles raves about Serovy's work ethic, and he was elected one of the team's captains. He is athletic and fearless in giving up his body to make a save.

'He's a very vocal keeper,” Pottratz said. 'He's got loads of confidence, and as a keeper that's something you need. You can't get down on yourself.”

West's defensive philosophy is really nothing out of the ordinary. But it takes coordination, trust, vision and intelligence to execute.

'The dynamic of this team is a lot different this year,” Olson said. 'This year we have a lot more good players, but not star players. So we have to work more together to score goals.”