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Warren boys soccer hoping for some carryover

Photo by Ron Johnston Warren’s Matt Goodman possesses the ball during a high school boys soccer match last year.

VINCENT — Warren High will be seeking a better start to the boys’ soccer season.

A year ago, the Ekrem Eksi-coached Warrior booters were winless at 0-6 before posting their first victory, a 3-0 triumph at John Glenn on Sept. 8.

From that point on, WHS was 8-3-1. During that run, the Warriors avenged an early season 5-0 setback at Marietta High with a 2-1 triumph over the Tigers in Vincent on Oct. 11.

This season, Warren is scheduled to host MHS at noon Aug. 31 and then cap regular season play at Marietta at 7 p.m. Oct. 10.

In the 2018 OHSAA Division II playoffs, Warren drilled Portsmouth West, 11-0, in an opening-round match and then lost to second-seeded Jackson High in a shootout.

Warren was a relatively young team on the pitch last fall that graduated just three seniors — goalkeeper Bryar Powell, defender Brayden Hanes and midfielder Matt Goodman.

Goodman was a first-team all-district honoree, while Powell was an honorable mention.

So, the Warriors will definitely need both a playmaker and someone between the pipes. Currently, Hunter Hanes, Jackson Petty, and Christian McAlarney are battling for the keeper starting role

There are several returnees, including senior first team all-district honoree Ethan Yost, who led the Warriors with 10 goals and 10 assists.

Against Portsmouth West, he had a hat trick in the first half.

In Yost’s sophomore year, he scored 22 goals and helped the Warriors finish 16-2-1 with some votes in the final Ohio Division II poll.

Yost, a track and field all-stater, is considered one of the best all-around athletes at Warren and may become the playmaker at midfield. Last fall, Yost kicked extra points for the Warrior football team but not this year.

A couple of other players to keep an eye on will be junior mid Gavin Ott and junior striker Shane Gardner. Also, at midfield could be Marshall Sloter, and Ben Goodman

On defense, look for junior Grayson Clark, junior Brayden McConnell, sophomore Derek McAfee, sophomore Brayden Hurley, and freshman Ayden Cornell.

Ron Johnston can be reached at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

Warren boys soccer

Head coach: Ekrem Eksi

Assistant: Ty Kroner

2018 record: 8-9-1

Roster

Seniors

24 Nathan Ritchie (F), 15 Westin Ritchie (M/D), 7 Ethan Yost (F/M)

Juniors

14 Kyle Mahoney (D), 0/1 Jackson Petty (GK), 12 Brayden McConnell (D), 19 Gavin Ott (M), Marshall Sloter (M), 2 Alex Modesitt (M), 00/31 Christian McAlarney (GK), Jacob Crawford (M), 9 Shane Gardner (F), 16 Grayson Clark (D)

Sophomores

6 Caleb Burns (F), 5 Hunter Hanes (GK), 3 Brayden Hurley (D), 8 Josh Yost (M), 20 Derek McAfee (D), 11 Ben Goodman (M), 21 Brayden Sallee (F/M)

Freshman

4 Ayden Cornell (D)

Key: F-forward, D-defender, M-midfielder, GK-goalkeeper

Schedule

Aug. 20 at Athens 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 24 at Gallia Academy 1 p.m.

Aug. 29 WILLIAMSTOWN 7 p.m.

Aug. 31 MARIETTA noon

Sept. 3 at Alexander 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 JOHN GLENN 11 a.m.

Sept. 10 LOGAN 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 PARKERSBURG SOUTH 5 p.m.

Sept. 16 at Parkersburg South 5 p.m.

Sept. 19 at PHS 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 ATHENS 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Ripley 11 a.m.

Oct. 1 ALEXANDER 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 at Wheeling Park 2 p.m.

Oct. 10 at MHS 7 p.m.

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