The Telluride High School Boys soccer team has been pounding the field in daily practices since August 15, and today the crew is ready to strut their stuff on their home turf.

The team will meet Ridgway today at 4 p.m. at the THS field for the home season opener. Head coach Brent Englund said today's game will be the beginning of a great 2005 soccer season.

"I have high hopes for this team," said Englund, who reports that the team played well in pre-season games over the weekend. "I think this team will have the opportunity to go as far or father than any other Telluride team."

The team of more than 20 will benefit from the veteran experience of a handful of senior players, including Steve Hilbert, Dawson White, Walker Tatum, and Nick Kenworthy.

"We have a strong contingent of senior leaders," Englund said.

This will be Englund's first year coaching the team, although he has nearly seven years of soccer coaching experience, working with young soccer players enrolled in the Telluride Youth Soccer Club program. He also has coaching experience at St. Michael's College in Burlington, Vermont, and at high school programs in New Hampshire, where he's from.

Assistant coach Cam McCleod joins Englund on the team's coaching front this year.

Englund urges high school sports-starved fans to visit the field this afternoon and cheer on the team.