Zach Statham took over a highly successful Monmouth-Roseville boys soccer program from the only head coach the program had ever known, Aaron Sikorski, in the spring of 2020. He and Sikorski co-head coached the squad in the 2019 season. Sikorski, who won 163 matches in his 12 seasons as the lone head coach, claimed four regional titles and a runner up finish in the Class 1A state tournament in 2017.
Similar to Sikorski starting the boys program back in 2007, Statham started a Titan girls soccer program in 2020, but that inaugural season was lost due to the covid-19 pandemic. The girls finally got to play their first match in program history in the spring of 2021. After winning no matches in their first season, the girls won four matches this past spring in season number two.
Statham has seen the participation numbers grow throughout his time with the boys, and now the girls, program. He credits that to the rising popularity of soccer in the United States, but also is quick to point out that the area youth program has had a major impact, as well.
The 2021 Titan boys soccer team went (11-6-4) overall, losing to state-power Quincy Notre Dame 6-0 in the Class 1A Quincy Notre Dame regional championship game. The Titans lost five seniors off of last year’s team but will return plenty of scoring in a talented returning group this fall. The Monmouth-Roseville boys open their season on the road against Abingdon-Avon on August 22nd. The Titans open their home schedule two days later on the 24th against Illini Bluffs at Pattee Fields in Monmouth. Following the home opener, Monmouth-Roseville starts a run of seven straight road dates, including the Pekin Invitational on August 26th and 27th.
