Trojans expect improvement after winless season

By ADAM BREWER

MVI Sports

Despite coming off a winless season, second-year coach Jess Henry is optimistic and excited about the future of boys soccer at California.

The Trojans were co-ed last year and were tagged with a lot of injuries that derailed the 2020 campaign. But now Cal will co-op with Monessen and Henry likes the influx of talent in camp.

“Honestly, you really don’t even sense the Cal-Monessen rivalry,” Henry said. “These kids have really come together and are working with each other. They have embraced each other and so far, I liked what I have seen in practice. 

“Last year with the pandemic, it made everyone really put things into perspective and how we took things for granted. We know the importance now of playing as one unit in a somewhat normal season.”

Cal went 0-15 last year, including an 0-12 mark in Section 4-A. In the last five season, Cal has just won seven games and is currently on a 38-game losing streak in section play. 

Since 2008, the Trojans have made the postseason twice, in 2011 and 2012. In that two-year span, Cal held a 16-13-3 record.

“We are working on the basics and the fundamentals of the game,” Henry said. “We know it’s going to be hard to turn this program around, but the kids have brought the right energy into this season. 

“We still need to fill out some holes in our lineup, but we have a solid cast coming back. For us, it’s all about maintaining possession and having good communication out on the field.”

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