Collins hopes boys lift soccer to next level
Coach credits Devine with building varsity program
For the first time since the program's inception the Brainerd Warrior boys' soccer team will have a different head coach.
David Devine, who coached the team in its first eight years, resigned following the 2004 season. His replacement is Cahil Collins, who coached the junior varsity last season.
Collins played club soccer as a high school student in Alexandria and intramural soccer at Mankato State University. He has been coaching the sport since his children were in youth leagues.
First-year Brainerd High School boys' soccer head coach Cahil Collins made a point to the Warriors last week during practice at Forestview Middle School as Josh Johnson (left) listened.
"I see it as David did -- a lot of building the first eight years, and I'm hoping to take that to the next level," Collins said. "Soccer was so young in Brainerd the number of people David had that were experienced was oftentimes limited so if there was an injury it ended up hurting a little bit because there were not a lot of people to fill in.
"I am fortunate enough, in large part to David's work, to be able to have a team now where that's not an issue."
Collins, who manages Rapid River Lodge and Waterpark in Baxter, will have eight seniors around whom to build his first team. Back are goalkeeper Josiah Collins, midfielders Morgan Impola, Nick Nathan, and Tim Lange; forwards Angelo Polcaro and Nick Mangan; and defenders Chris Comstock and Oliver Sagi.
Josiah Collins will begin his third in goal. Cahil Collins said coaching his son at the varsity level shouldn't be an issue.
"He was the starting goalkeeper on the varsity (last year) so that made things a little bit easier," Cahil Collins said. "Goalkeepers are a little bit different than field players, sort of like swimmers and divers. I write the workouts for the goalkeepers and give them to the assistant coach. He will work with the goalkeepers and I work with the other players."
Boys' soccer
Head coach -- Cahil Collins, first season
2004 finish -- 2-6-4 CLC, 2-10-5 overall.
Seniors -- Josiah Collins, Morgan Impola, Oliver Sagi, Nicholas Mangan, Angelo Polcaro, Nick Nathan, Tim Lange, Chris Comstock
Assistant coach -- Flippe Rosario.
Schedule
AUGUST
30 at Fergus Falls, 5 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
6 at Alexandria 7 p.m.
10 WILLMAR 12 p.m.
13 ST. CLOUD APOLLO, 5 p.m.
15 LITTLE FALLS, 5 p.m.
17 at Bemidji, 11 a.m.
20 at St. Cloud Tech, 7 p.m.
22 at Willmar 5 p.m.
26 SARTELL, 5 p.m.
29 FERGUS FALLS, 5 p.m.
OCTOBER
1 DETROIT LAKES, 11 a.m.
3 ALEXANDRIA, 5 p.m.
6 at St. Cloud Apollo, 7 p.m.
8 BEMIDJI, 11 a.m.
10 at Little Falls, 5 p.m.
11 at Sartell, 5 p.m.
Defenders in front of Josiah Collins should help make it difficult for opponents to score. Junior Jake Beckerleg, an all-conference performer in 2004, returns to anchor the defense along with Comstock and Sagi, a Swedish exchange student.
"Last year even though they didn't have success in the won-loss ratio there were fewer goals scored against them than in any previous year," Cahil Collins said, "so we're definitely coming into the season quite strong. We're losing James Mix (who moved to Robbinsdale) but we've picked up some players who fit into some of those positions nicely."
At midfield, the Warriors return Nathan, Impola and Lange.
At midfield, the Warriors return Nathan, Impola and Lange.
"We've also picked up a German exchange student, Max Schneider, who's a fine player," Cahil Collins said. "He's going to fit in nicely. Our strength is going to be midfield play."
Top returning forwards include Polcaro and Mangan and juniors Josh Johnson and Grant Gmeinder.
"Forward has been an area where we need to improve, scoring goals," Cahil Collins said. "Last year fewer goals were scored against us than any other year but again our won-loss record didn't reflect that because we had a tough time getting the ball in the back of the net.
"This year we're looking at it from more of a team aspect. It will not be just the forwards who score. It will be the midfielders who build the play up as we move down the field. They will create space with good runs and passes and try to unbalance the defense to create opportunities for our forwards to put the ball in back of the net."
Warriors roster
Seniors: Josiah Collins, Morgan Impola, Oliver Sagi, Nicholas Mangan, Angelo Polcaro, Nick Nathan, Tim Lange, Chris Comstock
Juniors: Grant Gmeinder, Karl Magnuson, Max Schneider, Scott Meyer, Kevin Mortensen, Joshua Johnson, Andrew Campbell, Andy Bartel, Chris Runyan, Jacob Beckerleg
Sophomores: Chris Dens, Zach Skogen, Michael McColgan.
Mike Bialka can be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.