Penns Valley Area boys' soccer preview

Vinny Pezzimenti

Head coach: Scott Case (13th year)

CDT photo/Cristopher Weddle

Returning letterwinners for the Penns Valley boys’ soccer team are, from left, front row: Tyler Silks, Anthony Glossner, McCade Lynch, Nate Royer; Back Row: Stefan Kelly, Evan Gover, Derek Wasson, Ben Eberly.

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Assistant coaches: Tim Rogers, Sean Herrmann

Last season: 14-6, lost to Richland 2-0 in the District 6 Class A final

Key losses: Gary Schwier, Eric Rossman, Chris Hazel, Chris Markle, James Searfoss, Gabe Senator, Mark Strine

Returning letterwinners: Ben Eberly (Sr.), Anthony Glossner (Sr.), Evan Gover (Sr.) Stefan Kelly (Sr.), McCade Lynch (Sr.), Tyler Silks (Sr.), Derek Wasson (Sr.), Nathan Royer (Jr.)

Key newcomers: Nate Sweeley (Jr.), John Downie (Jr.), Tyler Long (Jr.), Josh Stover (Jr.), Martin Black (So.), Calub Luse (So.)

The skinny: Glossner (midfielder), Gover (midfielder), Lynch (midfielder), Silks (forward), Wasson (defense), Eberly (sweeper) and Royer (goalie) all started last season while Kelly was the first midfielder off the bench. ... The Rams won the Mountain League small school division title last season, sweeping two games each with Bald Eagle Area, Philipsburg- Osceola and Tyrone. ... The team has lost in the district finals in two of the last three seasons and has never won a district title in the 13-year existence of the program.

Coach Case says: “We’re feeling strong after winning the Mountain League last year, we’re definitely looking to repeat that. We started six or seven juniors every game last year and the goalie was just a sophomore. They want to get out into state playoff compeition.”

“They took away the bitter disappointment of losing in the District 6 finals. They want to fix that. This group has slowly been pushing its way through. They’re finally seniors. They’re finally at the top of their game. They’re expecting a lot from themselves.”