A Fresh Start for Kickapoo Soccer
The Kickapoo soccer program endured its first sub‑.500 campaign since 2019 last year, a result that left the squad searching for answers as the new season approached.
Coach Phil Hodge has announced that as many as ten starters will return, headlined by forwards Lucas Pruitt, Ari Pollack and Christian Ponce, while midfield stalwarts Keegan Bilbao and Dalton Andrews are expected to drive the team’s engine. The roster also welcomes back senior Matias Dinamarca, who brings physicality to the defensive line, and other experienced players such as Easton Ditzfield and Aiden Battacharyya.
The loss of Mychola Smolin, a first‑team all‑conference honoree, will be felt after he was ruled out for the season due to injury, but the defense will lean on senior Matias Dinamarca and other experienced backs to fill the void.
Four seniors from the previous roster are back, giving the side a blend of continuity and fresh energy, and Hodge says the group is focused on competing for the full 80 minutes in every match.
The season opener is set for August 28 against Rock Bridge, a match that will serve as a litmus test for the team’s chemistry after an offseason of intensified workouts and cohesion drills.
With a roster that also includes Nick McClean, Parker Atkins, Landon Weber, Colton Gonzales, Drake Stafford and several other promising athletes, the team hopes to translate its revised schedule into tangible results on the field.