New coaches in Port Townsend and Forks, a new defensive line in Sequim and a new goalkeeper for Port Angeles headline a list of changes in the North Olympic Peninsula boys soccer landscape.
Ahmad Baabahar takes over for the Redhawks, while Joe Morton now coaches the Spartans’ boys team after also taking over the girls program in the fall.
With an experienced group of midfielders and forwards, Sequim will look to attack and preserve an all-new set of defensive starters.
The Roughriders will break in a promising new goalie, freshman Keenan Leslie, this season.
SEQUIM
Coach: Dave Brasher, 20th season.
Last year: 14-5, third in Olympic League, lost in district tournament.
Top Returners: Thomas Winfield (jr., F); Eli Berg (sr., MF); Adrian Espinoza (sr., F); Cameron Chase (jr., F); Austin Wagner (jr., GK); Jerry Bryan (sr., D); Christian Benson (jr., D); Will Bittner, (sr., D); Patrick McCrorie (so., D).
Newcomers: Liam Harris (fr., MF); Blake Eriks (jr., MF).
Outlook: Wolves replacing all defensive backs from last season’s district-qualifying team.
“Midfield and our forwards are our strengths, as well as Austin in goal,” Brasher said.
“We should have plenty of offense, and whether we hold off people will be the question.
“We will have to see about our defense, but they have been looking good.”
Brasher said the team’s goal is to return to district play and win a district game.
PORT ANGELES
Coach: Chris Saari, 11th season.
Last year: 7-10, fifth in Olympic League. Lost in league seeding tournament.
Top Returners: Wei-Yan Fu (jr., MF); Vincent Ioffrida (jr., MF); Tim Schneider (sr., F/MF); Jackson May (so., F/MF); Scott Methner (jr. MF/D); Ryan Beck (jr., MF/GK); Jeff Glatz (jr., D).
Newcomers: Angel Rivero (jr., GK/MF); Grayson Peet (so., MF); Miki Andrus (sr., F); Keenan Leslie (fr., GK).
Outlook:Roughriders look to continue improvement with help from an experienced set of returnees, including seven starters, and an infusion of a strong freshman class.
Saari pointed to Fu as the team’s playmaker in the central midfield, and is encouraged by what he sees from freshman goalkeeper Keenan Leslie.
“[He] looks polished technically and will help shore up the defense,” Saari said.
Exchange student Angel Rivero (Mexico) will be dangerous and help with possession in the midfield, according to Saari.
Andrus, who served as a goal-scorer for Port Angeles as a sophomore, is back on the team after a year in Nevada, and will bring pace and strength to the Riders’ attack.
Peet sat out last year with a broken ankle.
PORT TOWNSEND
Coach: Ahmad Baabahar, first season.
Last year: 5-11, seventh in Olympic League.
Top Returners: Colin Coker (sr., D); Shiloh Lamphear-Ramirez (sr., D); Connor Chisick (sr., F/MF); Beshir Little (jr., MF); Patrick Charlton (jr., MF).
Newcomers: Sean Dwyer, sr., GK; Ryan Botkin (so., D).
Outlook: The Redhawks are looking to build skill and stamina while staying healthy through early season games against the Olympic League’s Class 2A teams before hitting the 1A league schedule late in the year.
New goalkeeper Sean Dwyer, All-Olympic League last year in baseball, has been impressive in the early going.
“He hasn’t played soccer in high school,” Baabahar said.
“But he’s a great keeper. The one guy on the team right now that I think could play college soccer.”
Baabahar and assistant Robert Cantley each grew up playing club soccer in Europe and are focusing on teaching tactics.
“I don’t think we will have much trouble in the 1A league games, so my goal is to have them qualify for state,” Baabahar said.
“Our scrappiness getting to the ball will help us since were not a big, physical team and we don’t have that standout athlete. It will be a group effort.
CHIMACUM
Coach: J.J. Joyce, second season.
Last year: 1-14, last in Nisqually League.
Top Returners: Jonathan Bell (sr., MF); Shane Fields (so.,MF); Dylan Glessing (so., D) Al Hilt (so., D/MF/F); Carter McCleary (so., MF/F); Sean Miller (jr., D); Adam Ogden (jr., D); Dallas Taiji (so., MF/F).
Newcomers: Joachim Lundo (sr., MF).
Outlook: Focusing on skill improvement.
FORKS
Coach: Joe Morton, first season.
Last year: Did not field a team.
Newcomers: Samuel Gomez (fr., F); Alvaro Ortiz (jr., MF); Alex Martinez (so., MF).
Outlook: After not having a team last season, the Spartans have 22 committed players so far this year.
“All the kids have made every practice and are really excited about understanding that they get to set the standards going forward,” Morton said.
“We are a pretty young team, lots of freshmen and sophomores, but they want to win. They aren’t just going through the motions.”
Morton is excited about Gomez, who he described as having a solid skill level for his age and good feet.
Morton said Ortiz will be a team leader for Forks, and that junior Fernando Silva and 6-foot-2 freshman Xavier Ponce, along with senior Jack Kell, provide some good options at goalkeeper.
