Boys Soccer Preview

Boys Soccer Preview

JAMES COLLIER

FOR THE ASHLAND BEACON

62^nd and 63^rd District soccer might easily be two of the toughest districts in the entire state. Year after year, a team capable of making a run toward a regional championship gets sent packing in the opening round and has to watch from home while wondering what might have been. It's no secret that teams are commonly chasing East Carter each season for that regional crown, but the Raiders have plenty of stiff competition gunning for them in 2025.

ASHLAND

Coach: Preston Freeman (7th)

2024 Record: 4-10-3

Where Season Ended: 1-0 loss to Boyd, Opening Round of Districts

Departing Seniors: Brian Church

2024 could be summed up by one word for Ashland.

Almost.

The Tomcats fell in 10 contests last season, six of which were by two goals or less. Toss in three ties on the season and the Tomcats were that close to flipping the script on their 2024 campaign. After a very sluggish start to the season that saw only one win in eight contests, Ashland righted the ship at the midpoint of the year with three wins in four outings. But in their final five contests of the year, four of them were losses—three by one goal—with the outlier being an 1-1 stalemate with Rowan.

Ashland departs only one senior from last season in Brian Church while returning a solid group of incoming seniors. Church worked in goal primarily for the Tomcats last season, allowing under two goals a game while notching over four saves per contest. Maxx Brown saw action in the Tomcats net and tallied the only shutout for the team last season in a 1-0 blanking of Bath County.

Troy Barnett and Silas Pierzala led the Tomcats offensive attack last season with eight goals each. Dean Young and Barnett each added three assists. Casey Steele and Landon Alfaro Guerrero each had a pair of goals. The best part for the Tomcats is all the aforementioned players are back for 2025.

Ashland opens the season with a visit from Johnson Central on Aug. 14 and welcomes East Carter on the 25^th. The Tomcats host Boyd on Sept. 11 and visit Russell and Rowan County on the 18^th and 23^rd, respectively.

BOYD COUNTY

Coach: Levi Pennington (2^nd)

2024 Record: 10-9

Where Season Ended: 2-1 loss to East Carter, 16^th Region Semifinals

Departing Seniors: Brady Coleman, Cameron Stanton

Where Boyd started the 2024 season was a far cry from where they ended in the regional tournament. Boyd got hammered by East Carter, 6-0 in their third game of the season but played the Raiders to a 2-1 defeat in the regional semifinals. Under rookie head coach Levi Pennington, once the Lions found their footing, they were as tough as anyone in the region. Of their nine loses, five came in their first eight games but when the final push of the regular season came, that is when the Lions were at their best. Boyd rolled off four consecutive wins and five out of six games before ending the season in the region semis.

The best part of Pennington’s group is he loses only two seniors from last season’s squad. Gone are Cameron Stanton and Brady Coleman, leaving the Lions with plenty to feel confident about this year. Stanton led the team in scoring and assists with 12 and 5, respectively. But the Lions return a healthy collection of offensive weapons in Eli Simpkins, Conner Davis and Joseph Blankenship. Simpkins netted seven goals and added four assists last season and Davis and Blankenship each found the back of the net five times. Alex Maynard, Ezekiel Withrow and Ryan Crank had a pair of goals each. Also returning is goalkeeper Logan Bradley who played in all 19 contests as a sophomore while giving up under two goals per game and had over six saves per game. He also tallied four shutouts.

Boyd opens the season on the road with games at Belfry on Aug. 11 and Rowan County on the 12^th. The Lions have their home opener the 14^th in a visit from Johnson Central. East Carter visits Cannonsburg on Sept. 2^nd then heads to Ashland on the 11^th. Boyd closes the regular season with a visit from Russell on the 25^th.

GREENUP COUNTY

Coach: Wade Reed (2^nd)

2024 Record: 1-10

Where Season Ended: 9-1 loss to West Carter, Opening Round Districts

Departing Seniors: Elijah Beach, Easton Sparks

Greenup’s offensive struggles haunted them in 2024 with the Musketeers notching only one win with a pair of five-game losing streaks bookending their lone victory. Greenup took down Morgan, 5-4 midway through the season but mustered only seven total goals in their 10 losses.

Greenup’s roster was filled with underclassmen leaving plenty of experience to return for 2025. The Musketeers depart only two seniors from 2024 in Elijah Beach and Easton Sparks. Beach netted two goals and led the team in assists with three. Brantley Snider paced Greenup with six goals and Carter Nunley chipped in three. Owen Collier worked in net while averaging over 15 saves per game.

Greenup opens the season with a visit from Mason County on Aug. 12 and plays host to district foe East Carter on the 19^th. Morgan comes to Lloyd on the 21^st. Greenup closes the season on Sept. 30 with a visit from Ironton.

RUSSELL

Coach: Randy Vanover (8^th)

2024 Record: 12-9

Where Season Ended: 3-1 loss to Rowan County, 16^th Region Semis

Departing Seniors: Jack Bender, Ethan Stamper, Ben Totten

Russell’s 2024 campaign was much of a rollercoaster ride with highs and lows throughout. The Devils never lost more than two games in a row but never managed more than three consecutive wins in their 12-9 finish. However, they did claim the 63^rd District championship in a 2-1 win over Boyd but fell to Rowan in the region semis, 3-1.

Russell’s biggest gain from last season is their experience as a majority of players on the pitch at any given time were freshman and sophomores, leaving veteran coach Randy Vanover in a position of optimism for this season. The Devils do lose their leading scorer in Ben Totten who netted 17 of their 48 goals but the future is bright in those who will fill his void. Brylee Mullins had 10 goals and led the team in assists with 10 as a sophomore and freshman Trey Evans found the back of the net seven times and also had 10 assists. Sophomores Gavin Grandinson and Gunnar Hignite each netted four goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Caden Hampton worked in 19 games while allowing just over two goals a game and a tick under six saves per outing. He tallied five shutouts.

Russell opens the season with Collins on Aug. 11 at KCU. Their first home tilt is on the 14^th in a visit from Menifee. Hurricane, WV visits on the 23^rd and Russell heads to Grayson in a showdown with East Carter on the 28^th. Russell entertains Ashland on Sept. 18^th and visits Boyd on the 25^th.