Josten draws unwanted attention

A standout soccer player at an Idaho high school, George Josten spent his final two seasons trying to attract the attention of NCAA Division I college coaches.

Three years later, he’s wishing they’d leave him the heck alone.

Josten has followed last year’s breakout campaign at Gonzaga with an equally impressive performance this season. A junior forward, Josten leads the West Coast Conference with goals scored (six) and points tallied (16), and he’s tied for the conference lead with four assists.

WCC coaches learned a year ago that leaving Josten – pronounced JOE-sten – unaccounted for was a perilous venture, as evidenced by his first-team all-conference selection, 12 goals and 29 points.

Those same coaches have adjusted, double- and triple-teaming Josten in each of GU’s three conference games. He’s failed to net a goal in those contests (all losses) and recorded just one assist.

“He has to, obviously, get away from the double marking and be a little quicker in play,” said Gonzaga coach Einar Thorarinsson. “He has to find other players even more now. … He’s aware of all that.”

Josten, 20, said he’s always been an offensive-minded player, his mindset no different when he was scoring 27 goals as a senior midfielder at Idaho Falls High. But if opposing coaches have adapted, Josten said it’s time to undergo an evolution, too.

“They obviously know who I am,” Josten said. “So far, they’ve had a guy put out there to mark me, and he’ll follow me all the time. They’re trying to put pressure on me and get the ball off me. But part of the game is getting the ball to other people. I have to rely on my teammates.”

Josten is often the Bulldogs’ lone forward on the field. The Zags push forward on offense with midfielders John Palladino, Chris Hoyd and John Reha, providing Josten with a number of targets to whom he can pass.

Josten will find more open room to work if defenses are forced to be cognizant of the Bulldogs’ other scoring threats.

“He is one of those rare players who is faster with the ball than without it,” Thorarinsson said. “He has an ability to hold on to the ball in traffic. When he’s around other players, it’s like the ball is glued to him.”

Majoring in civil engineering with a 3.89 grade-point average through his sophomore year, Josten also was tabbed to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American third team. Thorarinsson marveled at Josten’s ability not only to juggle soccer with academics, but to excel at both.

Josten assured that he has time for a social life, allaying his coach’s concerns.

“I do have a lot of homework and practice and traveling,” Josten said. “In the last month, we were gone two, three weeks. It’s true lately that I’ve had a lot of homework. But some of my best friends are people I live with.

“So it’s not unbearable, but I’m feeling the load.”