(The following reprinted by permission from the Corvallis Gazette-Times.)
Overview
Coach: Shawn Bonds (3rd season)
Last year’s record: 7-7-1, 7-1 ValCo League (1st place). Lost to Seaside in second round of state playoffs.
Returning starters: Morgan Foster (Sr., F), Denver Nash (Sr., D), Cody Labahn (Sr., D), Kyle Calder (Jr., Mid), Devan Stucki (Jr., F), Ryan Kildea (Jr., Mid), Josh Seekatz (Soph., D)
Key newcomers: Jackson Frisbie (Jr., GK), Ross Priewe (Soph., GK)
Team outlook: Philomath is seeking its third consecutive league title this season and hopes to advance further in the playoffs than it did last year. Bonds says making the semifinals this year is a realistic goal. The Warriors need players to step up on defense and find a goalkeeper for that to happen though. Scoring goals, however, shouldn’t be a problem. Foster, a team captain, was the league’s top goal scorer last season and a first team all-league selection. “We look for him to show off his explosive creativity up top,” Bonds said. In ValCo League play, the Warriors will be challenged by rival Central. The Panthers will be looking to avenge a 1-0 loss to PHS in the final game of the season, which allowed the Warriors to win the league title.
