Pinski enters year two as Pines soccer coach

The Northland Pines girls’ soccer program is under the direction of Mark Pinski for a second-straight season, as the team reloads this spring to improve on a third-place finish in the Great Northern Conference a season ago. Northland Pines finished with a 10-8-1 overall record and was 5-5 inside the GNC.

Pinski said the team coming into this year is extremely easy to coach, and that should move things forward a lot faster in his second season. That should lead to different looks on the field as the team

“Things should move along much easier this year, considering it is my second year with the team,” he said. “These girls are very coachable and eager to learn. We will definitely be able to add in some more tactics and be more unified.”

The Eagles lost four seniors from last year’s squad, but will have five returning seniors this year. The program will also have eight freshmen entering the program. Pinski said he’s glad he has the group he has to help guide the younger players into the program.

“We have five quality seniors this year. I’m confident all of them will be very good leaders and will have a lasting impact on the younger players and the program as a whole,” he stated. “We have eight freshmen this year. I’m very happy that they will start their high school career playing with the upperclassmen we currently have.”

The returning seniors include Samantha Nampel, Sydney Sarkaukas, Kylie Lester, Ryyn Darr and Leah Verkuilen. Eight returning players scored one or multiple goals a season ago in GNC play.

There are plenty of key returning pieces to the puzzle, but Pinski said the team is focused on being its best as a unit and not as individuals.

“It’s hard for me to single out any key returning players because our strength comes from the ability of all the girls to play together and be unselfish,” he explained.

The structure should be solid at each level this season. That, along with the unselfishness of the players, will help the team compete in every game.

“We definitely have strong players for each third of the field. These girls are also very comfortable and unselfish about their individual roles on the team,” Pinski said. “They understand what it means to be a team player and put our best lineup out on the field.”

Pines finished in fourth place last year in the GNC, and the conference was spearheaded by Lakeland and Rhinelander. The coaching staff isn’t too worried about how the conference will unfold. They just know that if the work gets done, it will yield results.

“My only expectation is that we practice and prepare our best for every game. I don’t ever think about a preseason favorite team to win the conference. Every season and game is a new opportunity to be successful,” Pinski explained. “I think we have as good a chance as any other team in the conference to do well and finish in the top spot.”

The Eagles get the season rolling next week with the season and home opener against Crandon next Tuesday, April 7, at 5 p.m. Pines will also host Rhinelander in Eagle River on Thursday, April 9, at 5 p.m.