Proven Scorers Lead Heuvelton, H-D Into NAC West Soccer Play
Heuvelton and Hermon-DeKalb will both look to proven scorers to provide leadership in the NAC West circuit as a new season begins next week.
Heuvelton (9-7-2): Coach David Steele spent the preseason rebuilding as the Bulldogs graduated 11 players from the 2009 squad in Jordan Hawes, Devin Foster Andrew Jackson, TJ Jacobs, Andrew Ross, Bruce Carmany, Taylor Armstrong, Blair Davis, Jesse Hargrave, Zach Limoges, and David Thornhill.
"There's going to be a lot of growing pains. We're very young especially defensively. But offensively, returners David Putman and Aaron Cobb and Jon Tennant and Jon Sloan from the modified team should help us. We just need to find the right defensive mix," said Steele.
Only two full-time starters are back in forward David Putman who scored 19 goals last year and goalie John Cooper. Forward Aaron Cobb, who emerged a very solid starter for the second half of the season, generated five goals. Also returning are Trevor Brothers (fullback), Jordan Lytle (midfield), Connor Pierce (midfield), and Jacob St. Pierre (midfield).
Several players from an unbeaten modified team have shown the ability to make a smooth transition to varsity: Chris Powers (midfield), Cody Holland (fullback-goalie), Jonathan Tennant (forward), Mike Guardino (forward-midfield), Matt Guardino (fullback), Russell Jaquith (midfield), Dedirick Johnson (midfielder), and Jon Sloan (forward).
First year players include: Ryan Skipka (fullback), Cody McCormick (fullback), and Nathan Robinson (midfield)
Hermon-DeKalb (8-7-2): First year coach Marty Amo takes over the Demon program from Milt Bessette who led the Demons to a solid 8-6-2 finish in 2009.
"Offensively, we look to be strong with several returners. But our goalie situation is our main concern," said Coach Amo.
Striker Logan Allen (12 goals), Striker Dylan Amo (11 goals) and Midfielder Connor Whitton (5 goals) are the top offensive threats back. Also returning are Caulen Allen (sweeper), Logan Brabaw (Goalie/Stopper), Josh Southwell (Fullback/Goalie), Zack Cleveland (Goalie/Fullback), Macauley Snell (Midfield); Dylan Kimble (Midfield) and Steven Gilbert (Midfield).
First year varsity players are Trevor Stott (Fullback), Brady Whitton (Striker), Cameron Hance (Midfield), Luke Brunet (Fullback), James Anson (Fullback) and Jerred Wilson (Fullback).
"If we can consistently play well defensively and get good goaltending we should among the top teams in the West," said Coach Amo.
Harrisville (16-2-2): First year head coach Shane Countryman takes over the Pirates program from Rick Bearor who capped his 30-plus year career with a Section 10 Class D title.
Senior forwards Jason Thomas (11 goals) and Server Mustafaev (nine goals) head the returning players. Middie Joey Butts (six goals) also is a solid offensive threat. Other players include: Alex "Ace" Fraser (middie), Nick Weir (defense), Wayne Best (goalie), Austin Davis (middie), Jake Eddy (defense), Jason Ripley (defense), Brennan Campbell (defense), Kurtis Bassette (defense), Cole Frey (defense), and Justin Hartle (defense).
Clifton-Fine (7-9-2): Coach Trent Curry believes his team will be competitive by virtue of 10 returning players.
"We have a good core of returning players. Our line will be quicker than previous years and our line with be more mature. The team is working hard. Our senior group, at both the boys and girls levels, are pretty good athletes but the numbers below are low," said Curry.
Senior forward Evan Popham figured in seven goals last season. Senior goalie Cole Tristram begins his fourth season in net. Other returning seniors are Paul Harris (midfield), Devyn Moore (forward), Everett Dowling (forward), Broc McCarger (fullback), Jon Fetterhoff (forward), Gary Jessmer (midfield) and Miguel Garcia (forward). Robert Cushing (defense) and Dustin Sovie (fullback) are two new seniors.
Junior Jacob Demmon will anchor the defense at sweeper. Nate Aldrich shows excellent potential at center-halfback as a first year junior. Other members of the team are Anthony Reed (stopper), Nick Fraser (defense), Carl Twyman (midfield), Adam Daneils (midfield), Brock Oliver (midfield) and Emmitt Shaul (midfielder).
Edwards-Knox (7-10): Coach Joe Knox's Cougars will be looking to rebuild after losing eight starters but the Cougars can do that rebuilding with quality personnel.
"This season is going to be a learning experience but itn is going to be fun to watch some good young players mature," said Knox who does return Jon Davison, an 18-goal scorer and NAC West Offensive MVP.
Davison, a senior midfielder-forward, will be joined by classmates Dylan Davis (halfback), Brock Archer (defense, midfielder), Curtis Ellis (defense) and Joe Thompson (forward); juniors Ben Fuller (midfielder) and Luke Fuller (defense); and sophomores Terry Hull (forward), Brandon Dunn (defense), Jesse Bullock (midfielder-forward) and Tyler Tressider (midfielder).
Newcomers include Ryan Kirk (Sr. Defense), Brent Archer (sophomore, midfielder), Nick Davison (sophomore, forward), Chris Davison (sophomore midfielder), Ryan Gollinger (sophomore, forward), Caden Dandrow (freshman, goalie), Hunter Tuttle (freshman, defense), and Jordan Davis (freshman, forward).
