Once the season began, two weeks late, the Owls won three of their first four games. But the team then lost its last 12 games, including an 8-1 spanking by Webster Groves in the Class 3 District 3 tournament, with the Statesmen going on to win the district title. The Owls had played in District 2 prior to last season and made it to the championship game four straight years, winning in 2017 and 2018.
Chris Krueger resigned as head coach at Windsor in the offseason and was replaced by Michael Alvarado, Krueger’s assistant and head coach of the junior varsity for four years. Alvarado graduated from Windsor in 2009 and played forward for the Owls before continuing his career at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis.
“Early on I just wanted to coach. Becoming a head coach just worked out that way,” Alvarado said. “I’m excited for it and I hope we have a successful season and I have a successful career.
“Taking over a program, there’s always going to be a challenge to teach new tactics and philosophies, so a lot will depend on our seniors, who’ve been with me since they were freshmen.”
Success in Alvarado’s first season will hang on several factors, including how well the Owls adjust to his coaching style, and on the capable hands and feet of all-Jefferson County Activities Association goalkeeper Andrew Tanner. Despite the team’s 3-15 record last year, Tanner had a respectable 3.18 goals against average and made more than 200 saves. He’s the fourth Tanner sibling to play goalie at Windsor, following Jared (2020), Steven (2012) and Jake (2010).
Jake graduated from Missouri State University in Springfield and lives in St. Charles; Andrew said he sees him four or five times a month. Steven lives in Arizona, where he works as a mechanical engineer after graduating from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Andrew said he wants to attend Missouri S&T as well and enter the same field as Steven.
“When I was younger, I needed to step up and be on their level,” Andrew said. “Jared and dad trained me. I was always contending and it made me better. I’m most like Jared because I’ve trained with him. We hang out a lot.”
Andrew’s backup in goal will be sophomore Jake Wolff.
“Andrew does a lot of things well,” Alvarado said. “He comes from a goalie family (and is) the best (of them) to come through the program. He makes a lot of good saves on high and low balls and is a good ball distributor. Jake will get a chance to learn a lot this year.”
The offense slowed to a crawl after Windsor’s early success a year ago. Max Kimbrough led the Owls with nine goals, but no other player had more than three. Kimbrough graduated and with practice just beginning Monday, Alvarado isn’t sure yet who will start at forward.
“I like to play a more possessive, attacking style,” he said. “I’d like to push the offense more this year. I’m not really 100 percent set on the formation.”
Senior Haki Niksic could play up top as the coach tries to get him positioned to score. “He’s got a good shot,” Alvarado said.
A group of varsity veterans, all seniors, will lead the way in front of Tanner. Jayden Broderick is a wing midfielder who Alvarado hopes to develop into an offensive igniter. He’s also shown good leadership and attended all of the offseason workouts. Alex Julian lines up on the opposite wing from Broderick. “Together they get good services and crosses and link up with the forwards,” Alvarado said.
Ethan Petty can play forward with high energy and speed. Nathan Reichardt, a utility player, lines up in the backfield or midfield.
“Wherever he’s at, I know he will be part of the picture,” Alvarado said.
The Owls host their tournament to start the season. They will play the Fox/Bayless winner on Sept. 1. Windsor was 1-4 in the JCAA last year; Perryville (5-0) is the defending conference champion.
“Last year we only won three games,” Alvarado said. “We play a very challenging schedule to play the best competition we can, to prepare us for the postseason. We lost a good senior class with Kimbrough and (Eli) Dunmire (and seven others), but have good seniors to replace them.”