By Chris Parker
Crocker soccer posted 13 wins last season for its most since 2018. The Lions return seven starters and 12 lettermen from that team.
Head coach Rich Heenan identified three players from each unit on the field as leaders including Chase Sharpensteen (junior forward), Anthony Green (senior defender) and Adam Newton (senior midfielder).
Sharpensteen had 14 goals and three assists last season. Kaiden Routh (junior) will join him at forward after scoring three goals last season.
Newton and fellow senior Landon Pierce will work to facilitate and control tempo in the midfield. Sophomore Johnny Carriger is back in the midfield after scoring 10 goals with six assists as a freshman. Tristen Resch (junior) and Alden Resch (freshman) will also see significant time in the midfield.
Green played center back in all 23 matches last season.
“He (Green) is a constant presence that frustrates opposition attackers, and his experience and leadership will be key to us reaching our defensive goals this season,” Heenan said.
Other players who will see time on the back line include Cody Council (senior), Jaymz Helmick (senior), Ryan Mathus (sophomore), Blake Williams (junior) and Jayden Bodkins (freshman).
Goalkeeper is a question mark for Crocker in the early going after graduating last year’s starter and losing backup Daniel Orr (junior) to a season-ending injury.
“We will rely on our work rate and organization on defense to keep us in games this season,” Heenan said. “We lost a majority of our scoring with last year’s graduating class, but we return a lot of the backline and midfield that helped us bring our GAA down from 4.2 in 2022 to 1.7 last season, on the back of nine shutout victories.”
Crocker opens the season on Aug. 30 at home against Iberia.
