The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1402699
C-2 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 The Press-Dispatch Let's Go Chargers! 2134 E MAIN STREET, PETERSBURG | SMASHED to SHINY Get back in the game with Pike Collision. Trust your vehicle to us for quality auto body repair and paint services. Don't settle for less! Call 812-380-7453 By Kenzie Rudolph Chargers' boys' soccer team is back and ready to "make some noise" this fall, according to head coach Ja- cob Western. He believes they have the pieces to put together to meet their high expectations. Western said, "It's a great group of self-motivated guys...We just have to con- tinue to go out everyday and put in the work." He added the summer was "really pro- ductive" and they had every player regularly showing up to work and learn. Pike Central will return eight starters to the pitch after last year's 12-6 record and a fourth place confer- ence-wise. The upperclassmen consist of four seniors. According to Western, Devin Carlisle is a center midfielder with "an incred- ible work ethic." He is capa- ble of going "box to box" the length of the game. He added he is an "evasive dribbler" to initiate offensive attacks. Car- lisle was a captain last year and contributed five goals. Evan Conder will be seen in a defensive role, at left back or center back, said Western. "Evan has great passing out of the back and that's some- thing we are trying to do more of," added Western. He thinks he is an overall athletic kid and is "one of our best at win- ning balls out of the air," and expects him to threaten their opponents on set pieces. A player who is more fresh to the game is Ashton Evans. This will be his second year as a soccer player. "He has a lot of natural ability and has worked his way into the start- ing lineup," said Western. He expects him to play as a back on the right side and may get some wing-time. Western added, "He is one of our fastest players and can strike a ball with a lot of pow- er." Hunter Mosby will be in similar positions to Evans, playing defensive mid or wing. "Hunter is a physical player and has been showing the ability to connect passes," said Western. He added he is helpful to the younger play- ers and is an all-around great teammate. Xavier Shoultz will return at center back again this sea- son. "I think he is capable of being one of the best center backs in the area," said West- ern. He added he has a set of wheels and great instincts. Western is proud of his abil- ity to communicate. Another defensive-minded player is Isaac Fair. "He is a hard worker that has really improved his passing ability," said Western. He believes he is a big piece to their puzzle. Leading the defense in goal will be Peyton Howald again this year. Western said, "He was honorable mention All-Conference last season, giving up less than one goal per game." As a goalie should be, he added Howald is a "vo- cal leader and knows how to control the game." Western thinks he could end up the best keeper in the area. Joey Ridao shined last year and was a second-team All Conference selection with 10 goals and 10 assists, accord- ing to Western. He will be seen in an offensive role again this year. "He is extremely shifty and has great technical skills. Joey is extremely com- petitive and has really grown as a leader." Western is fully expecting big things. The midfield will be graced by Nolan Nelson again this season. Western says his touch is the best on the en- tire team. "We are asking him to play higher up the field and score more for us this season." Nelson contrib- uted five goals and five assists in the 2020 season. They are expecting a "breakout" year from him. Another midfielder is Isaac Burdette, who will be found on a wing spot. The Chargers are hoping for Burdette to serve balls from the outside. Along with center back, Kendric Sorgius may get some striker time as well. Western added, "He is one of the best athletes in the school, even though it's only his second year playing." He should be impactful, accord- ing to coach Western. He al- so said he has a competitive drive and should be danger- ous out of the air. There will be six steady sophomores for the Chargers. Jonas Martinez made strides last year and came back "a totally different play- er," according to Western. "He is one of the most skilled kids I've coached and has a real desire to be great." West- ern is expecting him to score some goals. Chase Ridao will be mov- ing from a back to a defen- sive-mid position. "He is the perfect mix of skill and tough- ness... has great instincts to win the ball back on defense and good skill to get out of pressure and help start our attacks," explained Western. Ethan Meadors will play defensive mid and wing, ac- cording to Western. He be- lieves him to be their stron- gest player physically. "He has really improved his touch and striking ability," added Western, comparing his abil- ities from last season. He is expected to cause chaos for the other teams facing the Chargers. Three players, Sam Nelson, Austin Henson and Cade Mor- gan, will split time between JV and varsity. Western is impressed with Nelson's growth and can put him anywhere on defense. Henson is a wing guy and can make strides on either side, explained Western. "He has one of the best left foots on the team." Morgan will be successful in the air and on set pieces, said Western, who added he will fill a defensive-line spot. Andrew Woods, Isaac Pan- cake, Riley Mosby, Ryan Mos- by, Hayden Goins and Chase Denton are all fresh players for the Charger squad. "I'm really proud of their effort so far, it's a lot of learning early on," said Western. They will play mainly JV. The main things Pike Cen- tral has been working on so far for the 2021 season have been possession, passing and quicker transitions from the defensive side to the offense. One thing Western is want- ing to change is possession against the top teams they come across. He explained the "inability to have the ball" has wounded them in previ- ous years. "We want to play a fast of- fensive style because we have a lot of talent, but also know we have to be able to de- fend hard for 80 minutes and counter quickly," said West- ern. Pictured above is the 2021-22 Pike Central boys' soccer team. They are, first row (l to r): Isaac Burdette, Devin Carlisle, Evan Conder, Ashton Evans, Hunter Mosby and Isaac Fair; second row: Ryan Mosby, Xavier Shoultz, Joey Ridao, Jonas Martinez, Austin Henson, Chase Ridao, Riley Mosby, Andrew Woods and Isaac Pancake; third row: Sam Nelson, Nolan Nelson, Kendric Sorgius, Ethan Meadors, Cade Morgan, Chase Denton and Hayden Goins. Not pictured is Peyton Howald. Photo by Mat- thew Haycraft BOYS' VARSITY SOCCER ❚ Friday, Aug. 20 – 2021 River City – 6:30 p.m. at Bosse Evansville ❚ Saturday, Aug. 21 – 2021 River City – 10 a.m. at Bosse Evansville ❚ Monday, Aug. 23 – Mt. Vernon (Posey) – 6:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Wednesday, Aug. 25 – Washington – 5:30 p.m. at Washington ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 31 – South Spencer – 8 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Thursday, Sept. 2 – Boonville – 7:45 p.m. at Boonville ❚ Saturday, Sept. 4 – Princeton – 12 p.m. at Princeton ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 7 – South Knox – 5 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Thursday, Sept. 9 – North Posey – 6 p.m. at North Posey ❚ Saturday, Sept. 11 – Forest Park – 11:45 a.m. at Forest Park ❚ Thursday, Sept. 16 – Heritage Hills – 7 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Monday, Sept. 20 – Northeast Dubois – 7 p.m. at Northeast Dubois ❚ Thursday, Sept. 23 – Gibson Southern – 7:30 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 28 – Southridge – 6 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym ❚ Wednesday, Sept. 29 – Wood Memorial – 5:30 p.m. at Old Petersburg Gym Hunter Mosby Ashton Evans Evan Conder Devin Carlisle Capable, Self-motivated team ready for 2021 We want to play a fast offensive style because we have a lot of talent, but also know we have to be able to defend hard for 80 minutes and counter quickly." - Jacob Kelly Western