Carrollton boys soccer aims to turn corner in EBC play

As Carrollton coach Tanner Goss enters his fifth season at the helm of the boys soccer team, he’s got a bit of a glass half full or glass half empty situation.

True, the Warriors are coming off a year in which they went winless in the Eastern Buckeye Conference and managed only one win all season. But save for four regular season games, Carrollton was in every contest and suffered more than a few one-goal losses. So, there is a silver lining to the 1-12-3 cloud from 2024.

Still, the Warriors are in a state of flux after bidding adieu to six seniors – Andrew Birong, Bradlee Dorsey, Landen McClelland, Kale Barken, Trevor Carpenter, and Turner Eddy. Goss acknowledges that it will not be easy to replace that experience.

“We are definitely in a time of building back,” said Goss. “We have a lot of newer guys to soccer as well, so we are pretty inexperienced. With all that said we have a team of truly hard working individuals working hard to get better every day.”

Three newcomers could contribute from Day One, including sophomore Aiden Fierstos (MF/D) and freshmen Isaac Day (MF/D) and Bayden Neeley (MF). They will join returning letter winners Dominic Shockey (senior D), Duval Citro (senior F/MF), Paycen Haven (sophomore MF/F), Rylan Barrick (sophomore F/MF), Cameron Dayton (sophomore D/MF), Alexzander Clough (junior MF), Troy Rutledge (junior F/D), Brayden Limbacher (senior MF/D), and Brian Welch (sophomore D/GK).

Even though there are nine returnees to the pitch, Goss admits that this year’s iteration of Carrollton soccer has some work to do.

“We’re lacking on the technical side of the game,” he said. “Although some students have put in a lot of time this offseason on the ball the overall skill is lower than past years.”

But one thing is for sure; the Warriors may fall short in precision and technique, but their cup overflows with drive and desire. 

“Grit and determination comes with youthful inexperience,” said Goss. “My boys may not be the most technically skilled but they fight for every ball giving 100 percent to every play. Win, lose, or draw, they hold their heads high knowing they've given everything they have.”

Will that enable Carrollton to bust out of its EBC slump, one that stretches back to October of 2020? 

Goss is optimistic that this indeed be the year for the Warriors to post a W in their conference ledger.

“We are hoping to steal away a few wins this year and end up somewhere in the middle of the ladder,” he said.