For Laquey boys soccer, this year is a bit of a balancing act. So before the season, Hornets Head Coach Aaron Thier had a conversation with a senior who’s chasing down some individual records. “I had a talk with him and a few of the other kids before the season began,” Thier said. “In the end, it’s the long game. We’re in it for the state title. The individual accolades come along with it.”
After a 42-goal season, Ethan Larson entered this year needing 48 goals to tie the school record. He’s on board with his coach’s plan.
“Other people have seasons coming, and this is my last one,” Ethan said. “People have to get their seasons to come and their senior years. We have to get ready for our team, and we can’t do that if one person or two people are singlehandedly trying to go for their own stats.”
That creed was put to the test in the team’s very first game. The Hornets took a 16-0 lead at halftime, which would eventually be the final score. It would have been a great chance for Ethan to make progress towards that record. But after three goals in six minutes, coach Thier pulled Ethan from the game.
“It’s tough though, because the kids obviously want the opportunity to beat up the stat sheet,” he said.
But for Ethan and Coach Thier, the chance to let other kids play more minutes was more important for the long run.
“I need to help the younger kids and the newer ones that are starting now,” Ethan said. “Help them learn and teach them better.
“We’ve got to stay healthy first if we want to contend for a title,” Thier added.
And make no mistake, Ethan putting the team before himself is big, because he really wants that record.
“It would mean a lot,” he said. “It would be amazing to have my name there in a record book, for who knows how long. Maybe a year, but maybe forever.”
State championship banners also last forever. Don’t count Ethan and his Hornets out for either.
