Danny King first stepped between the goal posts to fend off soccer balls struck in his direction in seventh grade -- the same year soccer became a varsity sport here. He was at Community Christian School on the southwest edge of town.
"I don't think I was very good," recalled the Cardinal senior on Monday.
He got some advice on goalkeeping from his dad, Kenny, who had played in goal at Solon, Ohio. When Danny got to high school, the Cardinals needed a goalie for the junior varsity team. The squad played a full schedule of Central Lakes Conference teams. There were a few wins, maybe two, said Danny.
When he was a sophomore, he took over on varsity. It was the first year for Richard Courtney as head coach. The team didn't win a game, but it was 0-17 with a bullet.
After two years without success, Danny couldn't help shouldering the blame. After all, he agonized; he was just a sophomore playing an important position.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It was pretty frustrating," he said. "We had some great athletes and had like six or seven close matches, but we just couldn't win."
Courtney had come from the athletic director's job at St. Cloud Tech, the conference's most successful soccer program. He told the players that the team would improve and each player who worked at it would improve individually.
The turning point came the summer of 2004, before Danny's junior year. The returning players all got on a Willmar team entered in a Minnesota Youth Soccer Association league.
"We learned how to win in summer league," Danny said, "and it gave us a couple extra months of practice."
The Cardinals won nine games last fall, surpassing the previous high of six in 2001 under Joel Silva. Monday's victory over Central Minnesota Christian gave Willmar 10 wins.
From where he stands, what's the biggest difference between 2003 and 2005?
"The defense is a lot better," Danny responded. "Last year we had Dixson Centellas, who really improved his senior year, and this year we have a lot of experience. Two years ago the defense would just play kickball. Now we've learned how to control the ball on defense and move it up to the midfielders, not just clear it. I'm seeing fewer shots."
The hallmark of the team is defense. Of the 10 wins, three were 1-0 shutouts and the other seven were by a 2-1 score. The losses were 5-2 to Mankato East, 7-1 to Fergus Falls and 1-0 to St. Cloud Tech, all road matches.
ADVERTISEMENT
King, who is 6-foot, 160 pounds, said his style is to make sure the opponent's attackers know who's in charge in the goal box. "You want to be aggressive on corner kicks and the like. I let them know I'm there," he said.
"We're more experienced on defense," said Danny. "The offense hasn't been together as long. Our defense controls our game. When we get ahead, we know we have a good shot (at winning).
King, Emmanuel Martinez, Josh Aslesen, Luis Estrada and Joel Juni are third-year varsity players. This year's team has been bolstered by the addition of freshman striker Ferdi Geurrero, a native of Honduras, and Alonso Fernandez, an exchange student from Chili. The team is, in fact, a melting pot reflecting the worldwide popularity of the sport. There are also players on the team born in Guatemala, Mexico and Somalia.
What does King think of the international flavor of a team in front of him?
"I don't even notice that," he said. "We're all pretty close."
The senior keeper added: "It's sure fun. My sophomore year, I never thought we'd ever be 10-2. Never."
On the Fly
n The Willmar Cardinals' six-team cross-country invitational at 1 p.m. Saturday at Eagle Creek will feature the No. 1 Class AA team in boys (Willmar) and girls (Apple Valley). The all-comers Mighty Mite elementary fun run will be held at the end of the meet, about 3:30.
ADVERTISEMENT
n Distance runner Kari Higdem is redshirting at Columbia University in New York City to allow a stress fracture that has nagged her for nearly a year to heal in time for indoor track. Kari finished fourth in the Class AA meet last year, the highest finish ever by a Cardinal at state cross-country, boy or girl.
n Concordia's win over Carleton runs its MIAC winning streak under Terry Horan (WHS '85) to 12 games. It's unlikely Horan will bench his senior kicker Brian Halverson (Fargo North), who is just six points short of tying Horan's Cobber career scoring record of 200 points.
