KALONA

One day after Hillcrest Academy’s season-opening game was rained and snowed out last week, Ravens soccer coach Marcus Miller put on his sunglasses and guided his team through a practice on the field behind Hillcrest Academy.

Imagine that, a rare sunny day in an early spring that has been filled with rain, snow and game cancellations.

As Miller watched his Ravens practice last Friday, senior goalkeeper Aiden Krabill and junior defender Grant Bender barked out instructions as an offensive attack headed their way. Krabill, who had a .786 saves percentage last year as starting keeper, and Bender, a 15-game starter in his sophomore season, will help lead the defense for a team that is returning just one goal scorer from last year’s squad.

“Hopefully, one of the strengths of our team is our defense,” Miller said. “Aiden did a really good job in goal last year, so I anticipate that will continue. Grant stepped in last year and did a great job with that center defender spot.”

After having its opener last week at Cedar Valley Christian called off due to weather, the season cranks up this week for the Ravens. After opening the season Tuesday at Tipton, the Ravens play Thursday at Highland and host 2021 Class 1A state semifinalist Iowa City Regina on Friday.

“At some point, you have to get out on the field,” Miller said. “You have to get out here and work on the spacing. A lot of these guys play basketball, but this is much, much bigger. Learning to take advantage of space and movement, these guys working on a lot of defensive shifting and communicating and where to go.”

The outside classroom picked up speed last week. A year ago, the Ravens lost two of their first three games, then won six of their next eight.

Jorge Canchola, a senior midfielder who scored three goals a year ago, is the only Raven who has scored a goal in high school. Noah Miller, a senior, led the Ravens with 9 goals in 2021, but he is out with a torn ACL injury he sustained early in basketball season.

Diego Ramos, a freshman who moved here from Mexico, is among a young group of forwards who’ll provide the offense. Among those joining him are Collin Miller, Alex Canchola and Micah Gerber.

The Ravens are loaded on the defensive side with Krabill in goal, along with Grant and Mason Bender, Kyle and Titus Neuschwander, and Seth Hours defending in front of Krabill.

“We’ve got a lot of youth,” Miller said. “The good thing is they’re good athletes and they have the skills.”

SCOUTING THE RAVENS

Head coach: Marcus Miller

Assistant coach: Ledru Miller

2021 record: 9-6

Senior returnees: GK Aiden Krabill, MF Jorge Canchola, MF Gabe Bruns, F/MF Collin Miller, F/D Titus Neuschwander

Junior returnees: D Grant Bender, MF Isaac Lybeck

Sophomore returnees: D/MF Andrew Starr, F Alex Canchola

Newcomers: senior D/MF Oscar Flores-Calix; freshmen F Diego Ramos, F/MF Jesse Blossom, F/MF Micah Gerber, D/MF Seth Ours, MF Bryce Bailey, D Kyle Neuschwander, D Mason Bender