LINDEN — A dose of senior leadership, a dash of returning experience, all wrapped in a layer of competitiveness is the recipe for what North hopes is a successful boys soccer season.
“The strength of this team is their competitiveness,” said Chargers coach Tristain Hall. “This team makes everything competitive whether it is getting their gear on before practice or racing each other from a water break. That makes practice itself a competition.”
The two seniors leading the way are Silas Hill and Josh Hunsberger. They will be called on for leadership, as will the nine juniors on the roster.
“We have numerous key players that we will be counting on this upcoming season,” Hall said. “Offensively we will be counting on Juniors Braydin Osborne and Nathan Woosley, Sophomore Tommy Varney and Freshman Sam Woolwine and Joseph Padron, to name a few, to bring a much-needed spark that we have not had for a few years.”
While the offense will generate through that quintet, getting stops in front of the goal keeper is just as big.
“Defensively, two of our key returning players will be juniors Kevin Toledano and Owen Arthur,” Hall said, “as well as Senior Josh Hunsberger who will be making a switch to play center back which is a more natural position for him. We will also be looking for our goalkeeper Andrew Hunsberger to continue to improve after making the switch to goalie last year.”
There is room for plenty of leaders on a big soccer field, and Hall has jobs for everyone.
“With adding 12 new freshmen and sophomores we will be depending on our juniors and seniors to lead the team to our goals for this upcoming season,” Hall said. “Guys like Josh Hunsberger, Nathan Woosley, Kevin Toledano, Owen Arthur, and Braydin Osborne will be counted on from practice through matches.”
The season opens on August 19 at Covington, but the next four matches are at home. Both county matches are on the road this season.
That competitiveness will pay off with a couple more ingredients.
“We will have a good season if we compete in every game and constantly improve” Coach Hall said.
