Dominant so far, Silas boys soccer, backed by returning seniors, aims for 3A state title
Despite the Lunar New Year declaring it the year of the Tiger, it might actually be the year of the Ram in the 3A Pierce County League.
Silas High School’s boys soccer team is off to a great start to the 2022 season. Currently, they sit alone atop the table at 5-0-0 (4-0-0 in PCL play). The Rams are also defending the last two 3A PCL titles, including a shortened 2021 season when they went 10-0-1 and 9-0-1 in league play.
Last year’s squad was impressive, going undefeated and a winning a league title. Coach Jason Gjertsen believes that this group of guys is even better.
“We are excited. Last year, I thought we had a very strong team and it’s a shame that we didn’t get to see how far we could go,” Gjertsen said. “What we started last year has carried on into this year. We’ve really only lost two or three seniors from last year. So, we have a good core coming back and five or six freshmen playing last year who are now sophomores. And then we have a quality senior class as well.”
The mix of quality senior leadership, experienced younger players, and confidence from winning big games last year gives this Silas soccer team the belief that they are a team that can and will win the state championship in May.
However, Gjertsen does not want his team to get ahead of themselves. His coaching focuses on incremental improvements day to day and week to week. He also believes his players must earn their time on the pitch. That goes for the eight seniors on the team, including captains Connor Tollan and Silas Bruner.
“For us, we know we have to continue to get better as the season goes on,” Gjertsen said. “Where we are at right now is probably not good enough to win three or four games at state, and that’s what our ultimate goal is. The mindset of our players at training, working hard, and knowing that really improving and building towards May is really what is going to help us win a couple of games. And then see what we can do in the state tournament.”
For the Rams, having players like Tollan and Bruner help communicate Gjertsen’s messages to their peers has been a big benefit. Bruner, a defender, anchors the backline for Silas. Ultimately, it is his job on the field to organize where his teammates are lined up.
“When I’m playing center back, especially on a team as good as our team, you really aren’t spending that much time in one-on-one defending,” Bruner said. “Obviously, there are times where I have to defend myself. But a lot of the game I’m more organizing the backline, directing the midfield, and telling them when to press. It’s not only focusing on my personal defending but also making sure the team is defending as a unit.”
The Silas defense has been outstanding so far this season. In their first five games, the Rams have only allowed two goals. And again, it is Bruner at the forefront of that defensive unit.
He also has been playing at Silas his whole high school career. If not for the shutdown in 2020, Bruner would have been a four-year starter. He knows the system and style that Gjertsen coaches and has signed on to play at Tacoma Community College, where Gjertsen also coaches.
As one of the senior captains, Bruner understands that there is a bit of momentum in the Rams’ corner at the moment. What he also understands is that Tollan, a Washington Premier teammate, is a guy that could arguably be the MVP of the team.
“I just try to be the creator and the starter of the attack for the team,” Tollan said. “Whether that’s assisting, scoring, or even getting the assist to the assist, I try to be the creator for the team. I think as a senior captain, I feel like I have the leadership role and experience playing that led me to take that role in being the creator. Silas leads the back very well and I lead the front, so we have our roles with that.”
Tollan has the offense run through him on the field, whether he is attacking and scoring, creating opportunities, or being a decoy.
Through the first five games, Tollan has netted four goals and earned three assists. At that pace, he could easily finish the season with at least 12 goals and eight or nine assists.
After his senior season, Tollan will go on to play soccer at Seattle Pacific University.
“It’s been fun. It’s been a long time [getting back to a full season], we knew we were going to play games, and then it was just going to end,” Gjertsen said. “We were blessed to be able to play, but at the end of the day, we had a pretty good team that I thought could make a run. I think that this team is even better, so we are excited.”
The Rams continue their quest for a state championship with a match against cross-town rival Stadium at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at Stadium Bowl.
Then, they will host Lakes at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at Silas High School.