The 2017 Rolla Boys Soccer Team’s season is already up and running. The team is looking forward to another great season led by Senior Drew Blair, Nick Janke, and Jayson Ross. The three seniors will have to pick up some slack after losing a lot of seniors from last year. Despite having to fill in starting spots, the leaders of the team are still hopeful for a breakout season.

“Gabe was kind of already a star almost already last year and then Mohammed didn’t play any varsity and is standing out to me a lot this year already,” Janke said.

Janke is put into a difficult situation this year because the team lost two defensive players from last year that really helped the him on defense.

“It is a little challenging but I think we got a pretty good fill for them now and will be just to be alright with them,” Janke said.

The the team is sitting at 5-2 this season and coming off some big wins, and losing so many seniors from last year is seeming to slow them down.

“It was tough losing a lot of people but I think we have done a good job replacing them,” Ross said.

Blair has really put on a show throughout his high school career, he is close to breaking the all time shutout record in Rolla history. It means so much to him as an individual.

“To me it’s a really special thing, I came in as a freshman looking to compete and coach let me come in and I worked hard and made the starting spot and ever since then i’ve just been trying to reach that goal,” Blair said.

Janke is a big part of the reason that the shutout record is even reachable and Blair knows it.

“We kind of made it a point to make sure we get it this year because it’s not just for me it’s for everyone that’s involved with helping me get it and our defense of course without Nick there’s no way I could really do that,” Blair said.

Janke has been selected to the as one of the top 140 soccer players in the nation, and on the All-American watch list.

“I’m proud of the fact that I got recognized and means there’s big expectations for the season,” Janke said.

The leaders of the team have expectations of competing far into the state playoffs this year but they are making sure they do not get too far ahead of themselves.

“Were just really looking to take it one game at a time make sure that we don’t overlook anyone,” Blair said.