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South boys soccer opens season today

PARKERSBURG – The Parkersburg South boys soccer team of head coach Ed Ayers opens its season at 6 p.m. today inside the Erickson All-Sports Facility when the Patriots play host to Cambridge in an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference battle.

Although this year’s PSHS squad does indeed boast 13 seniors, coach Ayers and fellow assistants Eric Stump, Steve Morgan and Scott McClure actually have a fairly inexperienced team.

“We lost nine starters from last year so it’s a rebuilding year,” said Ayers, whose squad boasts senior center defender Brad Emerick, a three-year captain. “So far, everybody is solid. We are hurting depth wise if we get any injuries.

“We ought to be fine. We are not going to be a powerhouse, but the boys are playing well together. It just depends on what they want to do.”

Parkersburg South could use Adam Colteryahn at keeper, but the junior is also a capable defensive midfielder. Senior Tristan Adams likely will serve as the junior varsity keeper while 12th-grader Lincoln Morgan could see time between the pipes or in the defensive midfield.

Senior forward Vincent Scalise will be relied upon heavily to try and help make the offense flow along with fellow 12th-grader Jay Davila in the midfield. Classmate Brad Morrison is an outside midfielder. Seniors Evan DeGraef (defensive midfield) along with defenders Steffan Affolter and Weston Ayers will be keys to thwart opposing attacks.

Junior Dylan Hall looks like he’ll be playing on the wing as an outside midfielder. A pair of freshmen, Bradley Stump and Ethan Nedeff, also will be expected to help contribute as outside midfielders.

The Patriots had a scrimmage on Monday against Ripley and coach Ayers said “both teams (varsity/junior varsity) looked good.” During the three-week summer coaching period, the Patriots attended team camp at West Virginia Wesleyan for four days.

Also vying for time this year for PSHS are seniors Austin Ross (F), Evan Flinn (MF), Mason Hupp (F) and Zach Lynn (D), juniors Zach Habeb (MF) and Noah Shockey (D), 10th-graders Josh Lynn (MF), AJ Koon (MF), Collin Cutlip (D), Jon Liebau (D) and Sean Marks (D) as well as ninth-graders Brandon Hardman (D), Ian McKnight (D) and Bailey Way (D).

“We’ve got some good players,” added the coach, who noted the key to this season “I believe is going to be working together.”

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