Twinsburg Booters Hope to Challenge in NOC

The defense never rests for the Twinsburg soccer team, which will once again play one of the toughest schedules in the area this fall.

A young Tiger team went 8-3-6 overall last season, losing only to national champion St. Ignatius, state power Strongsville and a talented Hudson team. Twinsburg finished second in the Northeast Ohio Conference First Division with a 4-1 mark and the team figures to be in the hunt for the title again this season.

How well did the Tigers play on defense last season? How about a school record nine shutouts and another record of a mere 13 goals allowed (four of which came in the loss to Ignatius).

"The boys had a productive season last year and being so young, our second-place finish was great," said head coach Bill Lally. "We have a lot of returning letter winners but the core of this team is still in the junior class even though we have a talented senior-laden midfield. And we are a bit deeper than we have been in the past."

Senior captains Tyler Nellis, Joe Onder and Sean Woods will lead the Tigers on the pitch this fall. Nellis is an All-NOC midfielder and Onder is an All-NOC defender. Seniors Josh Swinger and Stephen Lawrence (All-Ohio Academic) will also start and classmate Tyler Shebeck is another key veteran returner.

Junior starters include goalkeeper Frank Candau, defenders Matt Kelly and Cory Weddington and striker Ryan Meisner. The big junior contingent also includes Ben Bard, Johnathon Bogdany, Tom King, Michael Piccone, Ryan Scanlon, E.J. Sieradzki and Drew Shipley.

Sophomores Chase Betenson, an All-NOC striker, and Jake Krieger, a defender, will also start for Twinsburg.

"Betenson and Meisner are both dangerous attackers," said Lally. "Cadau is a delightful keeper and has had a chance to work under two All-Ohio keepers here. He looks great right now."

The Tigers open the season Monday by playing host to North Royalton and then entertain perennial state power Chagrin Falls (Sept. 10) and Solon (Sept. 13) before huge matches against Strongsville (Sept. 27) and St. Ignatius (Sept. 29).

"The NOC First Division is an amazingly competitive league and we joke about it being like the English Premier League," said Lally. "There are no weak sisters so just being competitive again in 2011 will be quite an accomplishment."

In a balanced conference, a single goal can decide a championship. If the Tigers can defend as they did in 2010, anything can happen.

"I think the key for us is to just try and keep getting better," said Lally. "We are still young and the learning curve here is steep."