By Matt Stewart

The Lunenburg High boy’s soccer team is gearing up for another solid season on the field in 2011. The Blue Knights possess a strong core of returning players and leaders, including a large senior class, and have all of the ingredients for a playoff bound season.

    “I think the team feels good about themselves,” Lunenburg head coach Mike Gutzler said. “They expect to do well, and that’s a good sign. It’s business as usual with the varsity, and I think staying healthy is going to be a big thing for us.”

    Lunenburg is trying to follow up a strong 2010 season.  The Blue Knights made it to the districts last season, getting knocked out in the first round against Nipmuc, who was the higher seed in the tournament. This year the team should do better record-wise since they have a much more favorable schedule and a lot of experienced players.

    “This should be a fairly good year for us,” Gutzler said. “Our balance is better. Some of our fundamental skills have gotten much better. We certainly want to be a better passing team. We also want to be able to transition faster, for the team to get back on defense much faster than last year.”
    Coach Gutzler is shaking up the roster this season. Adam Raudonat has been moved to forward from defense.  Making the move to the front line will be Sam Christensen who shifts from the mid-field position. Filling out the remainder of the forwards will be James Reynolds.

    Ben Reif and Will Holden have been shifted from forward to the midfield. Georges Tenie will play on the outside midfield spot, while Matt Pratt, Christian Kapstad, and Sam Keegan will also help the midfield.

    “Certainly having [Reif] being the middle, being our field general, is a big plus for us,” Gutlzer said.

“It’s good to  have him back healthy. Tenie brings a lot of speed to the outside and has a lot of ball skills. Holden in the middle is great size and great speed,”

    Defense has been shuffled as Dave Knutson, Logan Cooley, Aaron Bentley, Derek Booth, Mike Barney, and Pat Londa will anchor the Blue Knights back line. Junior John Lahti will handle goalkeeping after a stellar season in 2010.

        “Lahti is very solid, and this will be his second season starting in goal,” Gutzler said.

        Reif, Knutson, and Kapstad return as the team’s captains, and will provide strong leadership.

        “Certainly one of the strengths is speed,” Gutzler said. “In every place on the field, we have great speed. Size and  maturity will be our strengths. We’ve done a lot of  conditioning in the preseason, and  that’s going to be important.”

        Fitchburg High and Tyngsborough High join the Mid Wach C with Lunenburg this season. Tyngsborough,  which joins the league from the Eastern Mass. Dual-County league, is expected to be one of the favorites in the league, along Bromfield and Lunenburg. Oakmont, Tahanto, and Gardner comprise  the remainder of the Mid Wach C teams.

        Sixteen returnees include 12 seniors and four juniors. There are 32 athletes involved with the program at either the varsity or junior varsity level, and Coach Gutzler is looking to bring a couple of the JV players up to the varsity level.

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