As a senior on a team filled with young players, Daniel Balke is expected to be a big pressence in the Bryan Vikings' midfield.

At 5-foot-6 and 135 pounds, that's a challenge.

"Height is a big issue," Balke said. "You get pushed off of the ball a lot. I need to lift weights more."

Playing a key role as a center midfielder, Balke's experience and skills demand that he take a leadership role. He's at the right position for it, and his game has some strengths he can count on.

"I love to work the ball out of the back," Balke said. "That's my personal style, how I like to play. My vision -- seeing the whole field, and the whole game -- is what helps me a lot. It's finding open passes. Usually finding the forwards' feet is one of my strengths."

Balke, who is a defensive midfielder, has experienced up and downs in his playing career with the Vikings. His joined the varsity team as a sophomore, when he played outside midfield and Bryan fell short of the playoffs. He was a key contributor when the Vikings returned to postseason play in 2009. By then, he had moved to center midfield.

This season's young Bryan team got off to a slow start in nondistrict play, but Bryan is now 2-2 in District 12-5A heading into Friday's Crosstown Showdown. Bryan got to that point with a 5-2 victory over Killeen Ellison, scoring three goals in a 7-minute span Tuesday to open the second half.

Bryan is currently in fifth place in the district standings, but Friday's match at Merrill Green Stadium with district co-leader A&M Consolidated is a chance the Vikings to play catch-up.

It also will be a special one for the Vikings' senior midfielder.

"A lot of my good friends [play for Consol]," Balke said. "I played with them all through club [soccer]. A couple of them go to Houston with me. They play on different club teams, and we all compete together. It's a pretty big rivalry for me, personally."

Balke began competing in club soccer in fourth grade, but he's been playing the game for as long as he can remember.

"My first team I think was called the Lima Beans," Balke said. "It was a rec team for the Brazos Soccer Club."

He now plays club soccer in Houston, which helps him prepare for his role with the Vikings.

"It's before the high school season, so I'm already in shape, and that makes things a lot easier, " Balke said.

There are also pressures. The drive can be a long one.

"That was a big transition that required a lot of commitment," Balke said. "I probably spend 20 hours a week driving and playing. The cost is quite a bit with the traveling and the hotels."

With many young players on the team, the Vikings knew they would hit some rough patches this year.

"We have a lot of good players here," said Balke, who believes the development of the 2-10 team is still a work in progress. "It just requires a lot of teamwork and a lot of skill passes and ability. We have a lot of good players who can do give-an-goes, overlaps and things like that. But this is a fairly new team with a lot of sophomores."

Balke's trying to get this year's team where he believes they need to be, in the playoffs.

"We started slowly but are getting things together, and we'll see how it goes," Balke said. "Last year, we made the playoffs, but this year, it's tougher. We'll keep working on it. The speed of play helps us a lot. Our guys are good technically."