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Boys Soccer Preview: Ashland looks to compete in OCC despite youth

barry fortune
·2 min read

A preview of the area's 2023 high school boys soccer teams:

Ashland Arrows

Coach: Dustin Hosler

Last year: 12-6-1 (6-1 Ohio Cardinal Conference)

Projected starters: Justin Pancake (GK); Braydon Martin, Gary George, Brady Anderson, Carson O’Brien (DEF); Luke Driscoll, Johan Coffey, Abe Parillo, Kaden Howman (MID), Sebastian Roberts, Ayden Behrendsen (FWD)

Ashland High School's Sebastian Roberts (11) sends a pass by New Philadelphia High School's Jayro Mendez (8) during high school boys soccer action Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND TIMES-GAZETTE
Ashland High School's Sebastian Roberts (11) sends a pass by New Philadelphia High School's Jayro Mendez (8) during high school boys soccer action Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. TOM E. PUSKAR/ASHLAND TIMES-GAZETTE

Potential difference makers in 2023:

  • Driscoll is a senior this fall who provides solid work ethic and is a strong finisher for the Arrows.

  • Only a freshman, George will be the starting center back who reads the game exceptionally well.

  • Behrendsen is another starting senior for Hosler who brings quickness and a strong attack to the game.

  • Sebe Roberts is one of the Arrow’s best playmakers and brings valuable knowledge to designed set piece plays and can score or setup teammates off set kicks.

Coach’s comments: “Extremely young team coming into the season battling three injuries currently. Look to have a great team chemistry and focus on building that throughout the season. Expect some ups and downs as we go through growing pains of a young team.”

Loudonville Redbirds

Coach: Steve Seaman

Last year: 8-9-2 (1-3 Mid-Buckeye Conference)

Projected starters: Keltin Baker (FW); Hudson Endslow (FW, DEF); Dylan Hammitt (FW, MID); Easton Edwards (DEF, FW); Christian Gutierrez (MID); Caleb Hammitt (DEF); Zeke Hershberger (DEF); Brayden McQuillen (GK, DEF); Brendon Hess (MID); Aidan Neibert (MID, FW); Sam Sly (DEF)

Potential difference makers in 2023:

  • With six returning seniors in Baker, Hershberger, McQuillen, Hess, Neibert and Sly the Redbirds have the experience to challenge for the top spot in the challenging MBC.

  • Neibert was a first team All-TG selection in 2022 after scoring 21 goals and dishing out five assists and will be a steady force for Seaman.

  • Both Hess and Hershberger were named to the second-team All-TG in 2022 and their game experience should translate into even more scoring opportunities this fall for the entire team.

Coach’s comments: “With six returning seniors and 11 returning lettermen this year’s team will be more experienced than all but one of the Loudonville boys soccer teams in the past 12 years.

“We hope that our work ethic and togetherness will be the obvious strength of this team. We have been blessed with some technical players, but if fans walk away most impressed with how hard we play and how unified we are, we will consider that a success.”

Northwestern Huskies

Coach: Zac Gray

Returning roster: Reece Chanay, Grant Bond, Colton Mark, Gabe Nicholson, Haden Cline, Mateo Dauge, Blake Good, Gino Guidetti, Ayden Hendricks, Ethan Mausolf, Ben Ream, John Widdows

New players: Wahied Fasihi, Blaze Jurence, Reed Hamey, Jack Morris, Caden Grier

Editor's Note: The Times-Gazette reached out to every high school athletic department in its coverage area regarding previews. Any team omitted was due to not receiving information on time.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Boys Soccer: a team-by-team preview of the 2023 season