By Cort Reynolds
The Ada boys soccer team returns a strong group of lettermen that should form the nucleus of a solid 2021 roster.
Some promising freshmen should also team with the returnees in an attempt to improve on last season's record. The Bulldog varsity roster boasts two seniors, 11 sophomores, four freshmen and five juniors, so 15 of the 22 players on the team are underclassmen.
Nine lettermen and seven starters return from a squad that ended up 10-9 overall and 4-1-0 in the six-team Northwest Conference, good for second place.
Ada finished behind only perennial NWC champion Bluffton (5-0) in the conference race. The Bulldogs lost 7-0 at Bluffton, and then had to forfeit a rematch to the Pirates in the district semifinals due to covid-19 protocols.
The purple and gold kickers also finished fourth in the tough six-team North Central Ohio Soccer Association with a 2-3 mark.
The Bulldogs did lose some key seniors to graduation, led by NWC all-league scoring ace Jacob Poling and his 36 goals.
"Last year we relied a lot on Jake Poling's offense," said eighth-year Ada head coach Jason Okuly. "This year we don't have a single standout, but we are more balanced."
"We also have a couple of freshmen who should start and help out on offense a lot."
The Bulldogs return most of their starting backline to provide the backbone for the defense.
Senior three-time lettermen Tyler Jameson and junior two-time letterman Brendan Jameson will team with sophomore Braiden Hunsiker to spearhead the defense. Both Jameson's earned honorable mention NCOSA notice.
Senior center midfielder Isaac Williams, another HM all-leaguer, will help lead the team all over the field.
"Isaac is our general out there," added Okuly. "He is a fantastic communicator. The fifth guy in back is still up in the air."
Three-time letterman Williams is one of four team captains, along with the Jameson duo and sophomore outside midfielder/forward Drew Long.
Tall junior MF/F Carter Conley is expected to provide offensive punch, as is junior midfield letterman Ethan Murphy. Both provide solid athleticism and size.
Former starting goalkeeper Grant Preston is playing football this fall and will be replaced by athletic sophomore letterman Colton Long, who is poised to take over the all-important position.
"Colton brings a lot of athletic ability to the table," said Okuly. "He is quick and agile, and has a good attitude. He does not give up on any balls, and I like his aggression.
"Colton also has a good competition going with his twin brother Drew," added the coach. Sophomore Carson Gossard will serve as the backup keeper.
Junior defender Noah Huff and classmate Cody Loy (MF) are also back in the fold.
Eleven sophomores comprise half of the 22-player roster. Mason Selover (MF/F), Alex Dearth (D), Dillon Hartman (D), Matthew Frazier (D), Clayton McClain (D), Jesse Okuly (D) and Abdalla Al-Olimat (MF) return with the aforementioned sophs to help pace a deep second-year class.
Drew and Colton Long, Hunsiker and Al-Olimat are returning sophomore lettermen.
"Abdalla didn't start last year but did letter, same as Cody," said Okuly. "Abdalla has really stepped up his game a lot. He is a good ball distributor. He is smart and knows the game."
Four talented freshmen - Logan Jolliff (F), Ty Mowery (MF), Nathan Williams (MF/F) and Landon Smith (D) - round out the roster.
Jolliff and Williams are expected to start and provide an offensive boost as major contributors up front. "They make a good tandem since Nathan is left-footed and Logan is right-footed," Okuly pointed out.
Okuly says the team strength is its "camaraderie. The guys have a positive attitude and play with the same goal and purpose in mind. The players are selfless."
As far as areas of concern, the coach says the team is a little inexperienced up front. "We are pretty young up top, but they have talent and good backup help behind them," said Okuly.
In the NWC race, six-time defending champion Bluffton is the favorite to repeat once again. Ada took second behind the Pirates last season, with their lone league loss at Bluffton.
The Pirates are 30-0-0 all-time in NWC play since boys soccer became a league sport in 2015. "Bluffton is always the team to beat," Okuly noted. "Coach Smucker is doing something right over there, or it is something in the water," he joked.
"Our goal is always to beat Bluffton, but our secondary goal is to finish ahead of everyone else."
In the always-tough North Central Ohio Soccer Association league race, Riverdale (4-0-1) is the defending champion. But the Falcons lost 10 of their 11 starters, Okuly reported.
"It is hard to say who is the favorite, Liberty-Benton and Van Buren are always tough - plus Upper Sandusky and Cory-Rawson are always close games for us," said Okuly.
"We seem to play a lot of one-goal games in NCOSA that make me lose my hair."
Former Bulldog soccer players Noah Garmon, Jacob Okuly and Caleb Garmon return to the coaching staff as assistants in 2021.
Ada plays at Tiffin Columbian August 21 in the season opener. The home and NWC lidlifter is against backyard rival Allen East Aug. 30.
The Bulldogs get to play on the brand new synthetic surface at War Memorial Stadium this season. "Most of the players like it," said the veteran coach. "It definitely plays faster, and you have to be more precise with your passing."
Okuly set a basic goal for the team this season.
"Our season goal is just to play to 100 percent of our ability each match," said Okuly. "If we get beat by a team that is better, then we get beat. But if we can get that 100 percent effort, as coaches we can be happy with that."
Ada boys soccer 2021 at a glance
2020 record: 10-9-0, 4-1-0 NWC (2nd/6), 2-3 NCOSA (4th/6)
Head coach: Jason Okuly, 8th year
Formation: 4-1-3-2
Starters back/lost: 7/4
Lettermen back: 9
Top returnees: Sr. MF Isaac Williams, Sr. Tyler Jameson, Jr. D Brendan Jameson, Jr. MF Ethan Murphy, Jr. F Carter Conley, So. GK Colton Long, So. MF Abdalla Al-Olimat, So. MF Drew Long, So. D Braiden Hunsiker.
Top newcomers: Fr. F Logan Jolliff, Fr. MF/F Nathan Williams.
