Offseason work, large roster driving RLO boys’ soccer

Numbers are on the side of Random Lake/Ozaukee High School boys’ soccer team this season.

“The numbers we have this season are what is going to help this team this year and moving forward,” coach Matt Wilson said. “We have 29 players on the roster currently, and that is going to bring a lot of competition for playing time which will help to push the boys to work even harder than before.”

The team also put in time during the offseason through captains’ practices and by playing club.

“Those extra touches and game time are absolutely needed to compete at this level if they want to find success,” Wilson said.

RLO also returns everyone after exposing a young group to varsity play. The team went 5-13-2 last season.

“I am excited to see how that early exposure has helped them grow and to see what they can do with that this season,” Wilson said.

Among those returning are three all-conference players.

Max Klaus was named to the Big East second team at midfield.

Brady Ahrens earned honorable mention at defensive back, and Jaxon Klas earned honorable mention at left midfielder. He scored nine goals and had two assists.

Those three are captains, along with keeper Tyrus Simon.

Initial starters include forwards Joey Pierce and Johanni Altamirano Diaz. Midfielders are Klaus, Klas, Jocob Kopiness and Jackson Mayer. Ahrens leads the defense, along with Beau Langlois, Mason Casper and Collin Hoffmann. Simon is back at keeper.

RLO is off to a 3-3 start. The team won, 9-1, at Campbellsport on Sept. 8.

Klas scored the game’s first four goals, two on assists by Klaus and Chris Castro. Klas also scored RLO’s ninth goal.

Klaus had two goals. Pierce and Kopiness each had one.

All of RLO’s scores came in the first 19 minutes.

The Cougars had 12 yellow cards to RLO’s two. Wilson has never been part of a 14-card game.

“The cards ranged from language, flopping, reckless play, tactical fouls and dissent,” he said, adding he pulled most of his starters at halftime.

RLO beat Wrightstown, 8-0, at home last Thursday. Kopiness had four goals. Klas, Mayer, Klaus and Pierce each had one. Klas had three assists, Klaus had two and Pierce had one.

Wilson said Mayer’s goal was the highlight, firing from 30 yards to the lower left corner.

“Mayer has a ton of power coming off his shot and I am trying to find more ways to give him opportunities on goal,” he said.

RLO was to host Howards Grove on Tuesday, Sept. 15. It plays at Sheboygan Lutheran on Thursday, Sept. 17, in a Kiel tourney on Saturday, Sept. 19, and hosts Oostburg on Tuesday, Sept. 22.