His returning goalkeeper should be able to make up for any growing pains.

That combination could have the Jayhawks returning to the NJCAA Region 3 Division III playoffs for the first time in several years.

Ten international student-athletes have been added to a strong returning sophomore class, which has Anderson talking about one of the stronger groups he can remember in his 11 years on the Falconer Street campus.

Michael Andalora, a returning sophomore forward from Jamestown High School, will share the captaincy with Jakob Moore, Anderson’s second-year sophomore goalkeeper.

Members of the Jamestown Community College men’s soccer team, in front, from left, are: Vinicuis Rodrigues, Ross Venman, Lucas Oliveira Santos, Kyle Peterson, Ryan Koch, Tyler West, Jesse Da Costa, Axel Richardson, Nick Brown, Luuk Willemsen, Chris Calladine, Adam Marzalan, Isaiah Younger and Dan Mattock. In back are: Kamil Bessim, Harry Brodin, Samuel Visbel Navarro, Alex Beuke, Keon Thomas, Michael Andalora, Jakob Moore, Tommy Harrington, David Talkington, Harry Ward, Aiden Curran, Kanin Tanner and Josh Golando. Submitted photo

“Jakob and Andalora have taken captain positions and are doing a really good job of leading the team,” Anderson said Thursday evening as the Jayhawks prepared for this weekend’s opening games against North Country CC (today, 3 p.m.) and Clinton CC (Sunday, 11 a.m.) outside the Physical Education Complex. “They’ve come with the attitude that everybody needs to work hard every day and it seems to rub off on other players.”

Having a goalkeeper as a captain is rare, but then again so is Moore.

After joining the Jayhawks from Hutt International Boys School in Wellington, New Zealand last summer, Moore put together a fine season between the pipes and as a result was named to the Western New York Athletic Conference First Team.

“He’s the real deal,” Anderson said Thursday evening. “I know he’s going to stop everything he’s supposed to stop and even a few he’s not really supposed to stop.”

Moore has been working and refining his craft with Tyler Beaton, a former goalkeeper at Maple Grove Junior-Senior High School.

“(Tyler) has been very impressed with Jakob and how skilled he really is,” Anderson said. “We’re very enthusiastic about everything he can do as a goalkeeper.”

In front of Moore, Anderson will have several options to choose from as he begins the season with a 28-man roster.

Likely starting on the inside defensively will be returning sophomore Alex Beuke from St. Mary’s College in Broome, Western Australia, and freshman Harry Brodin from the Jewish Community Secondary School in London. On the outside, Anderson will line up Lucas Oliveira Santos and Samuel Visbel Navarro, both hailing from Brazil.

“Lucas and Samuel came through a recruiting service. Fortunately, we have academic programs that fit them nicely,” Anderson said. “There are a lot of people on the back end doing a good job. Right now, those guys have taken to the forefront, but it’s going to be a competition every day.”

In the midfield, Anderson feels Luuk Wilemsen from St. Vitus in the Netherlands will shine.

“Luuk is capable of holding down that center-mid spot,” Anderson said, “and being able to find the right spot at the right time.”

Vinicuis Rodrigues, a Brazilian transfer from Ohio with two years of eligibility remaining, should also see time in the midfield.

“The big thing this year is that I can look at 18 to 20 guys for sure and say I’m not concerned if any of them are on the field,” Anderson said. “They are all capable of doing things. When injuries do occur, we will have the people we can plug into those spots to help us.”

Up front, a pair of freshmen have shown the ability to score throughout the first three weeks of practice, which began Aug. 1.

“Axel Richardson (Cormet Bay College/Perth, Western Australia) seems to have a real knack on the outside to find plays up front,” Anderson said. “(Harry) Ward (Guildford Grammar School/Kalamunda, Western Australia) is a big guy in the middle that we’ve missed the last couple of years.”

Regardless of where the scoring comes from, Anderson believes the team can do it consistently, something that couldn’t be said for the past couple of years.

“I actually feel like we might have better balance than we’ve had in three or four years. It looks like we might have a number of players who can score the ball,” he said. “I’m very encouraged by it, but playing in the region we play in, there is very little room for error.”

The Jayhawks will attempt to limit those errors this weekend when they welcome the Saints and Cougars to campus.

“It’s a matter of getting off to a good start and winning a couple of games,” Anderson said. “Hopefully this weekend is a good start for the rest of the season.”

2019 Schedule

Aug. 24 vs. North Country CC 3 p.m.

Aug. 25 vs. Clinton CC 11 a.m.

Sept. 7 @ Mohawk Valley CC 4 p.m.

Sept. 11 vs. Mercyhurst North East 2 p.m.

Sept. 14 @ Herkimer College 3 p.m.

Sept. 15 vs. Hudson Valley CC 2 p.m.

Sept. 18 vs. Finger Lakes CC 4 p.m.

Sept. 21 @ Corning CC 2 p.m.

Sept. 22 vs. Lorain County CC noon

Sept. 25 vs. Monroe CC 4 p.m.

Sept. 28 vs. Tompkins Cortland CC 12:30 p.m.

Sept. 29 @ Cayuga CC 3 p.m.

Oct. 2 @ Genesee CC 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 vs. Fulton-Montgomery CC 3 p.m.

Oct. 9 @ Erie CC 4 p.m.

Oct. 12 @ SUNY Broome CC 3 p.m.

Oct. 16 @ Niagara County CC 2 p.m.

Oct. 22 @ Gannon 4 p.m.

Oct. 25 @ Roberts Wesleyan 7 p.m.

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