MaxPreps 2013 Soccer Early Contenders: Marin Academy boys

The odds of Marin Academy (San Rafael, Calif.) winning a North Coast Section boys soccer title are better than choosing heads or tails on a coin flip. It may not be a sure thing, but betting on the Wildcats to win it all in Northern California is definitely a quality wager.

The program located 30 minutes north of San Francisco in California's wealthiest county and plays for school that has high standards for academics and community interaction. That plays a big role in athletic success, coach Josh Kalkstein said, and is a huge reason why Marin Academy is one of 10 boys teams nationwide to be named a national title Early Contender presented by adidas and Dick's Sporting Goods.

"Marin Academy is a fantastic school both academically and socially. When you have all of those elements it makes it easier to build programs as they continue to attract younger student athletes and their families," said Kalkstein, in his 17th season at the school. "At the end of the day we see our fields, gyms, pools, etc., no differently than our classrooms."

See all the 2013 Fall Soccer Early Contenders



The classroom on the soccer pitch will be missing some key players from last season, and younger players have a shot to continue the legacy. It's far from a sure thing, but when you look at this program's track record, it's hard not to think that the Wildcats won't be in the discussion as one of the best in the state and maybe even the nation. Those players who got a little playing time last year could bloom and become major contributors very quickly.

A huge reason is Kalkstein. The UC Berkeley grad has played professional soccer around the world and is also a renowned assistant coach in the Bay Area for the Olympic Development Program, someone who consistently gets great results from his teams.

Another reason for optimism is that the players who came up clutch in a 2-0 victory over Roseland University Prep in the section title game are back. Dexter Eichhorst (now a senior forward) scored one goal and assisted on the other, scored by Noah Paravicini (who will be a junior this season).

Northern California is not an easy place to stay on top, especially in the private school realm in the areas north of San Francisco. But Kalkstein has been around long enough to know what it takes to stay atop the heap.

"We'd like to think we are one of the better programs in the state, however we are less concerned with how we compare to others. We concern ourselves with our own personal development and growth."

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Local look: "Marin Academy is coming off a 21-1-2 season which saw the Wildcats claim their fifth North Coast Section championship in the past seven years. Although the team has lost some top players to graduation, the Wildcats are always stocked with top talent and there's no reason to think they won't strongly contend for another section title this season. The team boasts plenty of dynamic attacking players and a strong back line. A tough preseason with games against Jesuit and Davis should more than prepare the Wildcats for anyone they might face within the NCS."
- Ian Ross, Marin Independent Journal (@IRossMIJ)
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State classification: California Interscholastic Federation, North Coast Section, Division II

Enrollment: 400

Athletic director: Josh Frechette

2012 finish: 21-1-2 (NCS D-II champion, No. 4 national rank in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings and NSCAA honorable mention)

Head coach: Josh Kalkstein

Years at school: 17



Record since 2008: 38-9-7

Notable team achievements: The Wildcats have won seven NCS titles in the last 13 years (Five in Class A, two in Division II), and finished No. 61 in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings in 2011.

Notable non-soccer facts about school: Marin Academy is the alma mater of Savanah Leaf (British Olympic volleyball team member), and boasts that more than 99 percent of its students move on to four-year universities.
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Key player losses:

F Andreas Freund

MF Eloi Vasquez

MF Jose Orozco



MF Matt Fields

D Peter Krebs

D Chase Porter

GK Easweh Harrison

Key returners:

Sr. F Dexter Eichhorst



Sr. MF Josh Cohen

Sr. D Nicholas Watkins

Sr. D Liam Main

Rising contributors:

Jr. MF Noah Paravicini

Jr. MF Patch Johanson



Jr. D Ben Lyons

Jr. W Luc Stervinou

Jr. GK Milton Dimas
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Toughest games: The Wildcats will battle Jesuit (Sacramento) in a matchup of two teams featured in the Early Contenders series. Jesuit was the only team to beat Marin Academy last season. Tamalpais (Mill Valley) is a tough local squad, and the Wildcats have a good rivalry with league foe University (San Francisco). Branson (Ross) battled the Wildcats to a tie last season as well.

Question marks: Will integrating a new goalkeeper and back line take time to acclimate to? The team yielded just one goal in four playoff games last season. Marin Academy plays a tough schedule and won't have a lot of games to ease into the new situation.

National look: California is a great state for soccer. But different parts of the state play soccer in different times of the year, so that dilutes its overall prestige on the national scene, as season rankings only include some teams. Jesuit and Davis High are two nationally known programs that lead the discussion.

In summary: "There are some holes to fill in regards to leadership with the graduation of several players, however this team is filled with a lot of quality leaders who also happen to be exceptionally talented."
- Head coach Josh Kalkstein
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