By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Ada boys soccer team took a big step forwward last year to register their best season in years.
This fall, the Bulldogs return 10 lettermen in an attempt to take the next step to championship contender status.
A total of 18 players comprise the solid roster, with five starters and seven seniors back from last fall's squad that finished 12-6 overall, 4-1 in the Northwest Conference and 3-4 in the tough North Central Ohio Soccer Association.
Fifth-year Ada head coach Jason Okuly feels the team "has good cohesion. They work well together, have fun and don't complain. There is a good team attitude.
"I like the leadership of our team," Okuly continued. "Our four senior captains - Chris Reyes, Jacob Okuly, Brendan Sheridan and Noah Garmon - are good leaders. We also have guys like Jon Allen and Drew Hadley who are capable of leading, as well as others."
Part of the starting lineup is expected to be comprised of senior forward Jon Allen, defender Jake Okuly, top returning scorer and assister Reyes, and junior MF Skylar Williams.
"Skylar will be fun to watch the next few years," said the coach. "Our offense has the potential to be as explosive as it was last year."
Ada netted 65 goals in 18 games last season, an average of 3.6 per game. All six of losses were by shutout, so they averaged 5.4 goals per game in the 12 wins, with five game at six goals or more. The high of 11 came in an 11-1 win at Old Fort.
"Reyes is great at ball distribution and ball placement," said Okuly of his MF/F scoring ace, who is a returning first team All-NWC and All-NCOSA pick. "He is very selfless and has crazy good foot skills.
"Jon Allen has a lot of speed up top that will really help on a lot of through balls," he added.
Other starters, all but two of whom are returning lettermen, will include staunch senior defender Garmon, steady senior defender Sam Hibbard, senior midfielder William Jolliff, junior Hadley, junior midfielder Nicholas Kamatali, senior mid Brendan Sheridan, junior D/MF Isaac Spar and speedy sophomore MF/F Jake Poling.
Garmon was named first team All-NWC and second team All-NCOSA last fall.
"I am looking for a big year from Brendan Sheridan," said the coach. "He has very good ball distribution skills. Jake Poling also can play; he is small but doesn't play small.
"I am looking forward to seeing what Drew can do at goalkeeper after being the backup to (four-year graduated starter) Ace Gamble the last two years," he added.
Ada is switching to a 4-2-3-1 alignment this season in an attempt to try and control the midfield area better.
"Our defense looks really good this year," said Okuly. "Hadley should be just fine at keeper, I have full confidence in him. He is tall, lanky, quick and has a great foot for kicking. He is also not afraid to stick his nose in there."
The team lost five key senior starters (two of whom were first team all-leaguers) to graduation, leading Okuly to have a few worries. "Ball control and possession, those first touches that lead to a natural flow, are concerns - it's just getting used to playing together."
In the always-tough NCOSA race, Okuly expects Van Buren and Riverdale to be the top two teams, with Ada in the mix. "Cory-Rawson always plays us tough, too," he added.
In the NWC, he noted that "Bluffton is always good and Allen East has stepped up its program. All the NWC programs are getting better."
The champion Pirates (5-0) handed the Bulldogs their lone NWC defeat, 2-0. Ada took second in the six-team NWC race, followed by AE and Lincolnview in third at 2-2-1 each. Ada expects to be near the top of the conference again in 2018.
Okuly noted that the team hasn't really "set any goals in stone" for this season, other than to continue improving.
Rounding out the soster are sophomore MF Jacob Thaxton, junior D Wyatt Rettig and freshmen Wes Allen (MF), Isaac Williams (MF), Andrew Rush (MF) and Tyler Jameson (D).
Last year's team raced to a 7-1 record out of the gate, and a similarly good start will bode well for another potential double-digit win season.
Caleb Garmon and Ray Hadley will again assist Okuly in coaching the Bulldogs.
Ada boys soccer at a glance
2017 record: 12-6-0; 4-1 NWC, 3-4 NCOSA
Head coach: Jason Okuly, 5th year
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Lettermen back: 10
Starters back/lost: 5/6
Top returnees: Chris Reyes/Noah Garmon 1st team NWC/2nd team NCOSA
Key newcomer: Fr. Wes Allen
