Gobs of goals: Muscatine's Arceo scores in bunches

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By Andrew Petersen | Friday, May 09, 2008 | No comments posted

Muscatine's Edwin Arceo already has three hat tricks en route to 12 goals this season. (Jeff Cook/Quad-City Times)

Muscatine High School was waiting for Edwin Arceo.

Six years ago, the Muskies soccer team qualified for the Class 2A soccer state tournament for just the third time. The team hasn’t been back since.

Around that same time, Arceo was first digging his cleats into club play.

“I see myself as a leader,” he said. “That’s how it’s always been.”

Born into a soccer family, Arceo never had the option of not playing.

His dad, Jose, played in Mexico before moving to California, where Arceo was born. And Arceo’s older brother, Edgar, played a pivotal role in Muscatine’s 2002 state berth.

But now is Edwin Arceo’s time.

The junior already has three hat tricks en route to 12 goals. It’s not much of a stretch to link those numbers with Muscatine’s surprise success.

Muskies coach David Shuler forecasted an improved squad on the heels of last year. But after eight players couldn’t join the team because of off-the-field disciplinary issues, he was re-evaluating his early prognosis.

“We really thought it was going to weaken our team this year, but the kids have really come together,” Shuler said. “We’ve had some nice surprises.”

Indeed, a roster that showcases just one other returning all-conference honoree other than Arceo figured to struggle. Yet, the Muskies have begun the season 5-1, their best start in Shuler’s 10 seasons.

Sophomores and juniors certainly have elevated their play, but Arceo’s presence is most valuable.

“I just think it’s soccer awareness,” Shuler said. “He knows where to be and when to be there. He won’t back down off a goal-scoring opportunity.”

That trait is a constant in any sport for Arceo.

He’s just as good, and perhaps most versatile, on the football field.

Last fall, Arceo was an all-state first-team selection with 1,008 receiving yards and 337 rushing yards. He also was a top-tier kicker, regularly drilling field goals, including a 52-yarder in a 30-27 win against Pleasant Valley.

His impact was felt soon after Arceo started playing football in eighth grade.

“I never really planned on playing any of those positions (other than kicker),” he said. “Our freshman year, we started out 0-3. Coach put me in at quarterback after that, and we finished 5-4.”

Arceo watched his brother shine in both sports and never had any doubt he would do the same.

In addition to the soccer success in ’02, Edgar also wound up as a walk-on placekicker at Iowa State. These days, the 24-year-old serves as Shuler’s assistant and coaches the sophomore Muskies.

Edwin Arceo dreams of playing college soccer, though for the next month he’s zoned in on high school competition.

Although the team has only one loss, Muscatine is tied for second in a deep Mississippi Athletic Conference. Pleasant Valley and Davenport Central also have one loss, and Bettendorf, which beat the Muskies last week, is perfect thus far.

After earning first-team all-MAC honors with 17 goals in 16 games last year, Arceo hasn’t been overlooked by conference coaches.

“He has that aggressive attitude, that ‘I’ll put the ball in the net at all costs’ mindset,” PV coach Greg Fiscus said. “Great feet, great touch on the ball. He can read defenses. That is huge.”

Substate play begins May 17, giving the Muskies another half-dozen games to prepare.

“I feel good,” Arceo said. “This was supposed to be a down year for us, but these guys are working. You know these guys are going to be there when you need them.”

He certainly will be.

Andrew Petersen can be contacted at (563) 383-2288 or apetersen@qctimes.com.