“Youth, courage, greatness,” is Manchester United Football Club’s motto. Manchester United is Coach Colin William’s favorite professional soccer team. This is his inaugural year as Freedom High School boys’ soccer coach. He has the same spark in his eye when he is talking about this high school season as he does when he’s finished watching “Man U” win a match. Williams is hoping to go “deep into the playoffs.”
“I feel we are at our peak fitness heading into the season,” Williams said.
The Bulldogs are expecting to beat the reigning PIAA 2015 champions, Sewickley Academy, two times in the regular season and then again in the 2016 WPIAL playoffs. Sewickley Academy is ranked first in Class A and are expected to be Freedom’s toughest opponent.
Sewickley Academy is ranked above teams such as Seton-LaSalle, Greensburg Central Catholic and Avonworth. The fact that the Freedom boys’ squad is not ranked highly is “OK” with Williams. Williams likes to be the underdog as he was when the Freedom girls’ soccer team finished fourth in the state in 2014.
“There’s no reason we shouldn’t finish well,” Williams said.
The Freedom High School Boys’ Soccer team will face Neshannock, South Side, Our Lady of Sacred Heart (OLSH) , Mohawk, Quigley and rivals Beaver County Christian School (BCCS) each two times throughout the season. The Bulldogs with play BCCS on Senior Night, Oct. 12. Freedom and BCCS play, physically, ending in close matches.
Preseason has tested the level of play. The Bulldogs won against both Hopewell and Carlynton. Both of these scrimmages included matches for the promising junior varsity squad. Williams is fortunate to have enough boys on the team to play both varsity and junior varsity matches. Additionally, the team of 35 allows for full play during practice.
Senior captains, Joey Pail and Jordan Herzog, lead a young, but skilled squad. Other members of the Freedom Class of 2017 are Devin Daley and Jordan Kanschat. Having only graduated three senior starters last year, players like juniors Santino Guandolo and Carson Gilarno move into positions that can be difference makers.
Williams almost brags about his talented defense consisting of juniors Josh Beck, Jon Kaercher, Ben Wright and Alex Wagner.
“Josh Beck is a strong, solid player… Beck and the other defenders support one another well,” Williams said.
Other impact players are juniors Nych Baker and Javin Melvin, sophomore Ethan Paxton and freshman Tyler Mohrbacher. At any moment, any player on this large team could answer Williams’ call. Many of these teammates have been playing together for close to 12 years.
Youth is found in the pace of their game. The speed of this team is awesome. Courage is seen in every agile tackle made. Greatness is what the goal is. Coach Colin has found his motto in this team. These next few months are expected to be a brilliant display of experience.