POULSBO — North Kitsap High School senior soccer player Marc Anderson came into the season with talent, much experience and versatility.

And in one single decision, North Kitsap head coach Pat Stickney uncovered one more attribute that Anderson had not yet fully developed — on-the-field maturity.

Stickney made Anderson a team captain, giving the senior a chance to develop his leadership skills. For a player who said he received a dozen cards a year prior to this season — as opposed to only one yellow card this year — it appears he’s done just that.

“He leads by example,” Stickney said. “He knows how to calm the team down. And that’s really neat because he used to be one of the silly ones.”

Skill-wise, being a leader has also given Stickney someone to which he can place anywhere on the field to help bring the level of play up.

“Marc can play anywhere,” Stickney said. “Though he normally plays mid or up front, he’s an energetic influence that can even help cement our back line.”

That’s exactly where Stickney chose to put Anderson following several games in which the Viking defense was penetrated often for losses. In his first game in the back last week, he made several clearing plays, broke up many offensive chances and provided vocal leadership in a 3-2 win versus Olympic.

“He’s a very versatile player,” Stickney said. “We can put him anywhere. It’s nice to have that in a player.”

Anderson, like many in the North Kitsap area, began playing soccer practically when he was still in diapers. He played for his mother, Angela Anderson, until he was 12. For the past five years, he’s played for the Stinky Pigs under coach Daryl Wilder, and has been a team captain on the team for the past four.

He said he’s grown to enjoy high school ball as much or more than select due to a rougher and lesser-officiated style of play.

“High school’s a lot more physical,” Anderson commented.

He’s confident that North soccer is not anywhere near out of the race yet, now 5-3-1 on the year.

“If we can turn it around now, we can still go right to state,” he said.