By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Ada boys soccer team returns several talented players to go with a large group of promising youngsters in forming a dangerous 2020 roster this fall.
With its new and returning talent, the Bulldogs are expected to improve on last season's .500 record. The roster boasts just three seniors and two juniors, so 18 of the 23 players on the team are underclassmen.
Nine lettermen and several starters return from the squad that finished 8-8-1 overall and 3-2-0 the six-team Northwest Conference, good for third place.
Ada ended up behind only state runner-up and NWC champion Bluffton (5-0) and Allen East (4-1) in the conference race.
The purple and gold finished in the middle of the pack in the rugged North Central Ohio Soccier Assocation as well with a 3-3-1 mark.
The Bulldogs did lose four seniors to graduation who earned some sort of All-NWC honors last season, so their contributions will be missed and have to be replaced.
But they do return first team all-league scorer Jacob Poling and honorable mention keeper Grant Preston, who is just a sophomore.
The Bulldogs got off to a fine 7-2-1 start on the strength of a seven-match win streak. But they went 1-6 down the stretch and lost in the first round of the tournament at home to local rival Cory-Raweon, 3-2.
Seventh-year Ada head coach Jason Okuly has led the Bulldogs to a combined 30-21-2 record over the past three seasons, and looks to improve upon that solid mark this fall.
Speedy and clever senior scoring ace Jacob Poling tops his returnees.
"He is left-footed, quick and fast," said Okuly. "He knows how to find creases and score. Jake has good ball distribution skills, and is a good finisher."
A three-time letterman, Poling is joined by senior two-time letterman defender Jacob Thaxton and junior two-time letterman defender Tyler Jameson as team captains.
"Jacob Thaxton is smart and versatile," said Okuly. "Isaac stepped up quite a bit a midfield last season as did Tyler on defense," added Okuly, who expects that and more this season from the experienced junior duo.
Other letterman starters back are senior midfielder/GK Ian Dellifield, junior midfielder Isaac Williams, sophomore goalkeeper Grant Preston, sophomore MF/F Carter Conley and sophomore defender Brendan Jameson.
Preston enjoyed a solid freshman season in goal, gaining valuabke experience in his HM All-NWC campaign.
"Grant had a good freshman season, has the potential to continue to get better and has a good foot," said the coach.
Dellifield is a former cross country runner who made a big contribution last season at midfield. "Ian is a smart player with good foot and ball distribution skills," said Okuly. Dellifield will also serve again as the backup goalkeeper to Preston.
Junior Ethan Murphy is back at midfield, while freshman Jesse Okuly is expected to play at defender.
Noah Huff and Dillon Hartman are sophomore defenders who round out the seven-man soph class.
Eleven promising freshmen dot the 23-player roster. Carson Gossard, Dakota Gossman, Drew Long, Mason Selover, Jackson Brown, Gabe Blankenship and Abdalla Al-Olimat could contribute at midfield.
In the NWC race, five-time defending champion Bluffton is the heavy favorite once again.
The Pirates are 25-0-0 all-time in NWC play since boys soccer became a league sport in 2015. Last fall, Bluffton made it all the way to the Div. III state title game at the Columbus Crew's MAPFRE Stadium before losing to Wellington Academy.
The Bulldogs lost a tough 3-0 battle at home to the Pirates last season. With good health, Ada could finish in the top two or three in the NWC this fall.
In the always-tough North Central Ohio Soccer Association league race, Van Buren, Cory and Riverdale could be the top teams, with Ada close on their heels.
Former Bulldog soccer standouts Caleb Garmon, Jacob Okuly and Noah Garmon return to the coaching staff as assistants in 2020.
Ada kicked off its season with a 4-2 loss at Lima Senior August 22. The NWC opener is at local rival Allen East Aug. 31.
Ada boys soccer 2020 at a glance
2019 record: 8-8-1, 3-2-0 NWC, 3-3-1 NCOSA
Head coach: Jason Okuly, 7th year
Formation: 4-3-3-1
Starters back/lost: 7/4
Top returnees: Sr. F Jacob Poling, Sr. D Jacob Thaxton, So. GK Grant Preston, Sr. MF Ian Dellifield, Jr. MF Isaac Williams
Ada boys' soccer team
The Ada varsity boys soccer team, from left, front: Ian Dellifield, Mason Selover, Grant Preston, Drew Long, Jacob Thaxton.
Row 2: Abdalla Al-Olimat, Brendan Jameson, Tyler Jameson, Dillon Hartman, Braiden Hunsiker, Daniel MacDonald, Matthew Frazier.
Row 3: Noah Huff, Gabe Blankenship, Colton Long, Jacob Poling, Carson Gossard, Jesse Okuly, Dakota Gossman.
Back: assistant coaches Jacob Okuly and Noah Garmon, Isaac Williams, Carter Conley, Ethan Murphy, Jackson Brown, assistant coach Caleb Garmon, head coach Jason Okuly.
