Knights' Soccer Team Off To Strong Start

It may be Nick Thorne's first season leading the boys soccer program, but that hasn't prevented him from creating lofty goals for the 2011 season.

"With the group of guys I have, I expect to challenge for the conference title and make it to state in the WIAA tournament," Thorne said. "We have some younger guys, but a nice group of seniors that set a great example and push everyone."

Despite losing their leading goal-scorer, leading assist man and starting goalkeeper from a year ago, Thorne has the Knights off to a 3-0-1 start.

The Knights topped the West Allis Hale Huskies 3-1 in the season opener and followed that up with a 3-0 victory over Brookfield Academy. After opening the conference season with a 1-1 tie at Kenosha Tremper, the Knights defeated Greendale 2-1 on Wednesday night.

“So far the entire team has really played well,” Thorne said. “Our goalkeeper, Zach Zelten, has played very well for his first year on varsity and bailed us out when we have made mistakes several times.”

Matt Hargreaves is the early season leader in goals with three. Chris Schuerman is not far behind with two goals scored and also is tied with Dylan Johnson for the team lead in assists with two.

“We have had great play from every position, be it starters or the guys coming off the bench,” Thorne said.

Following this Saturday’s Cudahy Tournament, where the Knights will take on the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings and the Milwaukee Reagan/WCLL Huskies, Oak Creek will fully plunge into the Southeast Conference schedule.

“The Southeast Conference is solid at the top again this season,” Thorne said. “We just played Kenosha Tremper and still have to play Muskego and Kenosha Bradford. Those four teams, including ourselves, will decide who wins the conference.”

Thorne is looking to the leadership of his captains Alex Mrotek, Aleksandar Babic and Schuerman, as well as seniors Eric Chilson, Zach Lisiecki and Marcus Maksimovic to lead this team to the top of the Southeast Conference.

“We have some real talent at every position, and if they do their job and trust other people to take care of their job, we have a very good chance of being very successful," Thorne said.

"We set our goals for this season before the summer started, so they knew what we were working towards and have really put in the work to achieve them."