It’s always important for veteran high school athletes who have experienced varsity-level play to stand as examples for and show leadership skills to their teammates who have yet to play on the varsity level.
And as he and his charges step into the 2014 fall campaign, veteran Pinkerton Academy boys’ soccer coach Kerry Boles knows that has never been more important than it is right now for his academy crew.
The Astros, who went a fine 12-6 last fall but lost to Manchester Central on penalty kicks in the Division I tournament quarterfinals, have a bunch of talented varsity veterans back in the fold for this season. But there is more than a handful of young men in uniform this fall who have no varsity experience, and their development is vital to the fortunes of the Astro boy booters during the 2014 season.
When he listed his team’s keys to success this autumn, Boles said, “Number one, we need to stay healthy in order to have a successful season. Number two, we have a total of seven players who have never played in a varsity game who we are relying on this year. Hopefully, as the season progresses, those inexperienced players will develop. It will be vital for our returning varsity players to be solid leaders and role models for the rookies. If we can accomplish that, I think we’ll be OK. But thus far, I really like the work ethic, camaraderie, and chemistry of this team. But, we have a long way to go.”
Among the Astros’ returning starters are seniors Kyle Hicks (a midfielder), Eric Werner (goalie), Alex Ebner (middie/forward), and Chris Ronan (middie), juniors Andrew Brochu (defense) and Sean Donohue (middie/forward), and sophomore Sean Muller (defense).
Other returning varsity letter-winners are senior defender Matt O’Brien and sophomore forward Trevor Morrison.
The list of promising newcomers includes juniors Colin Coutts (middie/forward), Conor Rathburn (middie), Cory Hogel (middie), Ryan Forkey (middie/ forward), and Stuart Graves (defense), sophomore Cobi Moore (middie/forward), and freshman Cole Perry (middie/forward).
When asked what opponents he expects to make up a list of “teams to beat” this fall, Boles stated, “Hanover, Concord, and (Manchester) Central, but don’t forget about Exeter and Merrimack.”
