RIVERSIDE

The blueprint for the turnaround was evident early.

After winning just nine total matches from 2016-23, the Highland boys’ soccer team made a significant leap last season with five triumphs. That modest taste of success left the Huskies yearning for more, a pursuit that started with one clear trait.

“Dedication to the sport,” Highland senior captain Jared Diaz said after his three goals propelled the Huskies to a 6-2 win over WACO in a Southeast Iowa Super Conference match Thursday at Highland High School. “There are not a lot of people that had dedication. Now that we have a group of young people, I think they are pretty dedicated towards the sport.”

Immediately following the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Highland players – minus four graduates and without the watchful eye of the coaching staff – began to convene weekly to work on their skills and chemistry. During the summer and fall months, players would gather on the campus practice field. Once winter arrived, they retreated indoors to the basketball gymnasium.

“That has really helped,” said senior midfielder Sage Hartley-Norman, who added two goals against WACO. “We’ve had at least 10 people show up every day, and it has really helped us work as a team together and just skill-wise, a lot better on the ball.”

The offseason effort has already produced the most victories for the Highland boys’ soccer program in a decade. The Huskies opened the season with four wins in a row and have six total victories, the most since the 2015 team won 11 matches.

“You’re just seeing a lot of experience pay off,” fifth-year Highland Coach Dylan Stewart said. “We’re real senior heavy. These kids, this senior group has really been together for almost four years now. They put a ton of work in in the offseason. It is a culmination of their hard work over the last four years. It is coming to fruition.”

Highland (6-3, 2-3 SEISC) is paced by Diaz, who leads the team with 12 goals and six assists. His hat trick – three goals in one match – against WACO was his third this season. Diaz is just one goal away from matching his total from last season, which also led the Huskies.

“My teammates, they keep my morale up,” Diaz said. “They keep pushing me to be great.”

Highland forward Hunter Seibel opened the scoring against WACO with his first goal of the season.

Fellow sophomore Jose Ramirez has eight goals and three assists through eight matches, while Hartley-Norman has six scores. Senior goalkeeper Ayden Havel has corralled 70 saves, allowed just nine goals and helped Highland to a 4-0 start with three shutouts.

“It was a realization of, ‘Hard work does pay off.’” Stewart said. “You just keep driving that message of, ‘If we just keep working hard, good things happen. If we keep creating chances, goals are going to come.’ That’s really been the message all year.”

This week, Highland has a pair of conference showdowns against one-loss teams, which began Monday with a 3-0 loss at Central Lee. The Huskies will try to rebound Thursday at home against Burlington Notre Dame before a Friday visit to Cedar Valley Christian.

“Just keep calm since we haven’t been to this stage,” Diaz said. “Just keep calm and keep going and play our hardest.”