Truckers return to soccer field
Games scheduled through April
By Greg Seubert
After playing a handful of games last fall, the Clintonville boys’ soccer team is back on the field to complete its season.
The Truckers dropped a 4-1 decision April 17 to Notre Dame Academy, but coach Chadwick Dobbe said his team is happy to resume its schedule.
“It’s great to be outside and be with the guys again,” he said. “Losing (the season) in the fall was terrible. I wish we could have played the whole time, so I’ll definitely take this opportunity.”
The Truckers played five games last fall before the season was put on hold due to COVID-19 concerns. While Clintonville’s football, cross country and girls’ tennis teams completed their seasons, the boys’ soccer and volleyball teams stopped playing and resumed their schedules with the start of the WIAA’s alternate fall season.
The boys’ soccer team returned to the field April 5 by hosting Sturgeon Bay and will wrap up its regular season Friday, April 30, at home against Green Bay East.
“It’s been really good for us,” Dobbe said of the split season. “I would say it’s been a really easy transition. It’s not nine months since you’ve last touched a ball, it’s four or five. As coaches coming in, we knew it was going to be a day-by-day task. We’ve asked these guys to play a lot of positions, a lot of spots they’ve never played.”
The Truckers trailed Notre Dame Academy, one of area’s top high school soccer programs, 1-0 at halftime and 2-1 early in the second half before the Tritons sealed the win with a pair of unanswered goals.
Ethan Masiarchin scored Clintonville’s goal off of an assist from Nicolas Edwards.
“We’re young and don’t have a lot of seniors,” Dobbe said. “I wanted them to get this experience against one of the top teams because going into next fall, I expect us to be one of the top teams. This fall will be my fourth year coaching, so they’ve been in the system for four years and they’ve grasped it really well.
“Today was our most complete game we’ve played,” he said. “Had I not had to move some guys late, we probably don’t give up those two late goals and it’s a 2-1 game.”
The Truckers are scheduled to host Campbellsport at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 23.
“They’re eager to learn and have overcome some crazy circumstances,” Dobbe said. “Everything you could want as a coach, that’s what I’ve gotten out of these guys.”
