(by Don Meador, Sports Information Director)
One of the newest fall sports at Allen County-Scottsville High School enters this year in search of continued skill development, player improvement, and additional wins. The Patriot soccer team starts their third year of varsity soccer seeking to accomplish their goals while continuing to build the program.
“We are hopeful,” explained AC-S soccer coach Josue Ramirez. “We have about 15 kids that are playing and hopefully we can add three or four more as school begins. We have a lot of comebacks (returning players) and that’s a good thing.”
Three seniors---Brayden Green, Trevor Huizenga, and Aaron Shain---will be asked to lead the way for the team. The trio have several years of field experience.
“Aaron has been playing since the soccer program started in middle school,” Ramirez said. “He’s improved a lot. He is showing a lot of character in the game on the field and outside the field. He will be the leader. Brayden has improved a lot. Some fear he had in the beginning, he has overcome. Trevor joined us last year and he has improved a lot in the defensive area on the field.”
Ramirez notes that his team has been busty since official practice started in July.
“We been working on our agility, ball control, and our teamwork,” Ramirez added. “Teamwork is hard sometimes because we have a different level of ability. Some of our players have a higher ability than others are learning to trust in the ability of their teammates. We are working on building that.”
AC-S enters the season with a 21-game slate on the schedule. One change will be the new District 15 alignment. Warren East replaces Monroe County and joins Barren County and Glasgow as district opponents. East brings a solid, well-established program into the mix.
“That will be a challenge,” Ramirez said. “But I think that’s a good thing. Our program needs a challenge. The teams we have played were challenges but they were kind of on the same level. The difference was they had played longer. Warren East has more time and better quality of players. We can reach there, it’s just a matter of time.”
AC-S does face the challenge of replacing their goal keeper. Leon Wielawski recorded 286 saves last year. Wielawski is playing soccer this fall at Berea. As a side note, former Patriot is laying this fall at
The schedule includes 10 home matches at the soccer field located behind the Allen County Primary Center with the possibility existing that one game could be moved to Patriot Schedule. The road matches includes a 2A Championship opening round meeting with Warren Central---a top Region 4 program and state contender. Overall, the schedule includes several teams outside of District 15 that are on a similar building level as AC-S.
“The dream is to see our field crowded with people,” Ramirez admitted. “People who come out will see our kids give their best each game. Our parent involvement has been great and the school system’s support has been amazing. We want more. We are hungry for more. We want more kids. Our dream is to see soccer continue to grow in Allen County.”
AC-S opens their season at home on Thursday, August 11 at 5:30 in a District 15 match with Barren County. Two days later, Saturday, August 13, the squad hosts Glasgow at 10 a.m. in the first of five 10:00 a.m. Saturday games on the schedule. Soccer continues through September with District play beginning the first weeks of October.