New season, new coach for Peninsula Seahawks boys soccer
It’s another year and another new head coach for the Peninsula High School boys soccer team. The new coach, the second in two years, is Justin Stoddard.
He takes the reigns from previous coach Alec Moore, who himself had stepped into the top spot for the first time last year after being an assistant coach. Moore recently moved away from the area and stepped down as the program’s coach. Stoddard was a former player for the US U17-U23 National Team, the Seattle Sounders (A League), and the Rochester Rhinos.
He was also a coach at Harbor Soccer Club and had known some members of the team from coaching them there. That connection made him the top choice for the players on the team who reached out to Stoddard when the position opened up.
“I had a couple of the seniors reach out and say, ‘Hey, Alec is leaving. We want you to be the coach,’” Stoddard said. “It’s something I wanted to be a part of.”
The team is one he thinks has potential as he is optimistic for they can go if they put the work in.
“It’s going to be a really good time,” Stoddard said. “They’re a really good team and have an opportunity to do something really cool this year if they put their noses down and grind through it.”
One thing he has been hoping to convey to the team is a new style of play that emphasizes being intentional every time they get the ball and a stronger organizational structure.
“Possession with a purpose. I came to a lot of their games last year,” Stoddard said. “Tactically, they weren’t as organized as I’d like to see them from the back to the front. That comes down to being able to communicate from the goalie to the center backs to the defensive midfielders all the way through to the top. Just having a style of play rather than just playing the game.”
One of Peninsula’s top returners is senior Evan Janson. Jason was a striker and leading scorer for the team last season and was named to The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area high school soccer second team.
Janson spoke positively about Stoddard and said he’s noticed a more intentional approach in the team’s practices. He hopes this year will be a step forward for the team.
“This year has changed because Justin is making it a lot more technical,” Janson said. “The drills are making us just better at soccer.”
Janson said he’s seen a noticeable uptick in the team’s collective energy and competitiveness during practices so far this season.
“It’s just a lot tougher this year. Higher intensity,” Evan Janson said. “We’re trying to get better every practice instead of repeating the same thing and it’s just a lot better.”
Peninsula ended last season with an 11-7-2 overall record and finished 3A SSC play with a 9-3-2 record, finishing in second place in the league behind crosstown rival Gig Harbor.
They were eliminated in the first round of state. Fellow senior Kel Sonnen shared in the optimism about the upcoming season and the emphasis on hard work.
“We’re definitely working harder than anyone else in the state of Washington probably,” Sonnen said. “We woke up this morning and ran a 10K.”
All of this has left Janson with high hopes for this season with the new coach and with the plan to also move to a new position.
“I hope we can win state,” Janson said. “I’m changing my position from striker. I’m going to drop into midfield, just play right under the striker. Help give goals, and score them. Hopefully I can still score goals.”
What led to the change in position? It is all about an investment into creating a strong foundation for college.
“That was just a decision I made because I want to get better at midfield postion because that’s where I believe I’ll be playing for college,” Janson said. “I want to get that position down and not just play striker just for fun during high school.”
Only time will tell if that new position and hopes to make it to state pay off for the team. One thing is certain, their new coach has his eyes set on the top prize.
“That goal for any high school team is to win a state championship,” Stoddard said. “I’d be stupid not to say we want to win state. Otherwise, what are you doing it for?”
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 12:01 PM.