Offensive outburst

Thu, Sep 4, 2008

Nick Heyboer has always been able to score goals, but as a sophomore on Grand Haven's varsity soccer team last fall, Heyboer wasn't able to put his considerable skills on display.

Injuries to teammates and several other factors kept the explosive offensive force from reaching his full potential as Heyboer spent much of the season at midfield, where his efforts were split between scoring goals and lending a hand on defense.

But this fall, as a junior, Heyboer has been able to concentrate solely on offense, and the results have been staggering. The young man who scored nine goals in his entire sophomore season has exploded for 16 goals in just seven games this fall. He's recorded a trio of hat tricks and has accounted for 60 percent of his team's offense.

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"It's been pretty good so far," Heyboer said Wednesday. "The team is a lot different from last year. The defenders are really doing their job well, not letting other teams score. They can get the ball to our midfielders, who can send it up to me and Mike (Rosso).

"I don't have to worry about playing defense. I can concentrate on scoring goals."

Heyboer hopes to continue his torrid goal-scoring streak this evening as Grand Haven hosts its cross-river rivals, the Spring Lake Lakers, at Buccaneer Stadium, with the varsity game starting at 6:45.

"I know 1-2 kids from every team we play, but with Spring Lake, I know pretty much their entire team," Heyboer said. "I've played with most of them on Strikers. I haven't watched them play this year, but I hear they're doing a good job. I'm excited to play them."

The Buccaneers are off to their best start in years, winning six consecutive games after tying Okemos in their season-opener. Heyboer scored the Bucs' lone goal in the Okemos contest, and had a few chances to put the game-winner in the net. The junior forward said tying the Chiefs may not have been the worst possible outcome for that game.

"We didn't beat Okemos, but we definitely outplayed them," Heyboer said. "Tying them really made us realize we have to work hard for everything. This team's definitely been working hard. Everyone's doing their best."

Heyboer is one-half of an extremely explosive pair of forwards for the Bucs. Senior Mike Rosso lines up opposite Heyboer, and the two play off each other very well.

"Mike's definitely athletic and fast. That takes some of the pressure off me," Heyboer said. "The defenders have to look at him, too. If they're on me, I can pass it off to him, and if they're on him, I can get the ball and hopefully put it in the back of the net."

Heyboer said he felt better prepared coming into his junior year, both physically and mentally.

"I played all throughout the summer and this spring," said Heyboer, who played for the Vardar West and Kalamazoo Kingdom club teams this year. "That helped keep me in shape and always getting touches on the ball. I feel faster, and just being a year older, I'm a little bit bigger than I was last year."

His coach, Aaron Dean, said the difference he sees in Heyboer begins with his maturity.

"Mike's matured a little bit, and there's a lot less pressure on him this year," Dean said. "I've never coached someone at the high school level who could put balls away like this. I'm really happy for Nick. He's playing to where he's always had the potential to play.

"I'm glad for him, and also for everyone else on this team. The guys can focus on what they do really well, and Nick can hang out on top and focus on scoring goals. It's been fun to watch."