Do a jump on the start.
Through the first full week of the 2022 regular season that’s exactly what the Alma High School boys soccer program has done.
As it stands the Panthers have been nothing short of super impressive in their first four starts as they have compiled a record of 4-0 and have outscored their opponents to the tune of 18-3.
Alma opened the season with a 6-0 win at Mt. Pleasant and then won three times at its own tournament Saturday, besting the likes of Ithaca 6-1, Gladwin 4-2 and Big Rapids 2-0.
Long-time head coach Nick O’Neill knew he had a good team going in, yet even he’s been a bit surprised with how good his team has been.
“We started a little slow, but got it clicking,” said O’Neill, who is in his 19th year. “We brought back the bulk of our team from last year and have a lot of kids who have played a lot of soccer. We’re talented.”
One season ago the Panthers went 10-5-4 overall and bowed out in districts. They also graduated arguably the best player in program history in Connor Lemerand, who closed his four-year prep run as the top career goal scorer (80) in program history. His 32 goals last season were also a new single-season record at Alma.
Alma is also relatively young this season with only two seniors on the roster in Aidan Barnes and Corey Yates. In all 23 of the 25 players on the roster are underclassmen, a fact that bodes well for the future.
Yet, the Panthers have the talent to do some great things this season and as of now that’s the plan.
Junior captain Leo Richter leads the Panthers in the scoring department with seven goals while freshman-phenom Brayden Truman has six.
Alma opens the conference season at Saginaw Swan Valley on Monday before hosting Birch Run on Wednesday. By the time the Panthers host Essexville-Garber on Aug. 29 they will have played seven games in nine days.