EDWARDSVILLE — New Edwardsville boys soccer head coach Jason Boyd is opening the season with a clear approach for the Tigers: prepare one game at a time, beginning with Saturday’s matchup against Moline, as the team pursues its goals of winning the Southwestern Conference and reaching a Final Four.
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“Obviously, we're going to take it game-by-game,” Boyd said. “That's the most important piece: game-by-game. We'll prepare for our game on Saturday against Moline. I think we have to approach each game differently; some games, we'll be able to play a little bit more freestyle, and a little more free-flowing attack. Some games, we will probably have to play off the counter a bit, and some games, we'll have to be a little more direct, with flighted balls or diagonal balls of that sort. So a lot of it is going to depend on our opponent, what they give us, and what we're willing to take.”
Boyd, who was an assistant to now-retired coach Mark Heiderscheid, said he is confident in the group Edwardsville has this season.
“I feel pretty confident in what we have in our locker room,” Boyd said. “Some of the things we have to sort out will be some things we'll have to deal with in-house, playing together, playing for one another, and making sure we do the little things the right way, and also continuing to work hard, what it feels like. In such a short season, both teams that we've played have worked extremely hard, and we're going to have to realize that nothing's going to be given to us. We're going to have to work for everything.”
Boyd said the coaching change has not altered the program’s expectations.
“I don't think anything changes,” Boyd said, “from when he (Heiderscheid) was here, to me now taking over. I think the goal is to win (the Southwestern) conference; I think the goal is to get to a Final Four, all while making sure the kids have a fun and positive experience. I don't think any of that changes; the only thing that changes is how you get there. The conference realignment (to include Triad and Mascoutah, plus the division of the SWC into two divisions) makes a difference.
"Also, the classes (in the IHSA) restructuring, we lose some teams, so that's going to change how the playoff picture looks. So you just have to be prepared for anything and everything, and just take it one game at a time. And again, the goal is still the same. Win conference and get to a Final Four.”
Boyd said he is still evaluating how the roster fits together as the Tigers move through the early part of the season.
“Again, I'm really excited about the season,” Boyd said. “I think right now, we're just trying to figure out everyone's likes and everyone's dislikes, where everyone can play, how everyone can line up, and what everyone brings to the table. Once we can sort all of that out, then the hope is to put it all together so that we can have a deep run in the playoffs, but again, it's going to require everybody to do their part and do their job, whether they're starters or coming off the bench, and our role players. So, we just have to take it day-by-day, give it everything we've got, and we will be prepared for whatever is thrown our way.”
