NTL BOYS' SOCCER: TOWANDA LOOKS TO BE IMPROVED IN 2022 (2022-08-23)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Turning the Towanda boys’ soccer team into a competitive bunch has been a slow process, but it’s been one of positive progress.

This year, they would like to continue to take those small step forwards, and maybe even make a leap.

“We’re working on team bonding a lot,” said Logan Lambert. “Just over the summer we’ve been having open fields, and we’re getting a lot of numbers, so I just think the chemistry is good.”

Lambert led the team in goals a year ago, and helped them double scoring output from the year before - 18 goals to 33 - along with sophomore Jack Wheaton. Both players finished with double digit goals.

Now that he’s had a year of experience, Wheaton wants to impart some of the knowledge on the incoming freshmen.

“I want to build up these younger guys,” he said. “That one year of experience means a lot.”

Wheaton also enjoys being up front with Logan.

“It like it a lot because I think he knows what he’s doing, and he’s fun to work with,” he remarked.

There’s a consistent theme focusing on team, and team chemistry. With 19 players they’ll have one of the biggest rosters in the league to pull from, though 11 of them are freshmen and sophomores.

“They’re looking up to us, it’s really nice to see,” Logan Lambert said.

Coach Tom Lambert also believes the sophomores will step up.

“I’m expecting a lot out of the sophomores this year,” he said. “The seniors should be able to hold their own.”

One area they’ll need to improve upon is defense, and, by extension, gaining possession. They had a great counter attack, but rarely had the ball enough to utilize it.

“We’re trying to work together and talk more,” said Rian Hennessy, though that’s one area they could utilize there influx of younger players. “I think it’s going to be helpful, I think they’re going to help us a lot.”

They’ll also need to work in a new goalie, which is never easy.

“It’s tough,” said Tom Lambert. “I do have a couple different options for goalie, too. I think we have pretty good goalies in the back.”

They’re hoping that this might finally be the year that they make that small leap.

“I feel like the past few years we’ve been growing progressively, and this year, I think we could make it all come together,” said Logan Lambert.

It won’t be easy, playing in a league with Wellsboro and Athens - two of the top programs in District IV.

“It’s tough, but it makes us better,” Logan remarked.

ROSTER

Talen Irish

Aidan Hennessy

Logan Lambert

Mike West

Dominic Esposito

Joey Weinman

AJ Young

Micheal Ferrulli

Connor Barnes

Jack Wheaton

Rian Hennessy

Owen Lane

Nate West

Paul Scott

Mason Harbst

Reed Young

Braydon West

Sam Fulmer

Calogero (Charlie) Mignano

SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 - Towanda at Hughesville Tournament, 10 a.m.

Aug. 31 - Towanda at Wellsboro, 5:30 p.m.

Sep. 1 - Sullivan County at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep. 6 - Towanda at Shamokin, 5 p.m.

Sep. 7 - Galeton at Towanda, 4 p.m.

Sep. 10 - Towanda at Williamson, 10 a.m.

Sep. 14 - NEB at Towanda, 4 p.m.

Sep. 19 - Montgomery at Towanda, 5:30 p.m.

Sep. 19 - Williamson at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep. 21 - Troy at Towanda, 4 p.m.

Sep. 26 - Towanda at Athens, 5:30 p.m.

Sep. 28 - Towanda at NPL, 4 p.m.

Oct. 4 - Towanda at Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 6 - NPL at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Oct. 11 - Towanda at NEB, 4 p.m.

Oct. 13 - Towanda at Galeton, 5:30 p.m.