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NTL BOYS' SOCCER: NEW LOOK TROY READY FOR 2022 (2022-08-23)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It will be a new era for Troy boys’ soccer, both on the field and on the sidelines, as long time assistant coach Dustin Holdren takes over.

“It feels surreal to me,” Holdren said about being the one to hold the whistle. “I never thought I would one day be the coach of the team I not only played on, but won championships with, as well. Being head coach wasn’t something I was looking for, but the opportunity came, and I’m really glad I took it. Being head coach now has really given me a major sense of respect to the head coaches before me. You take on a lot and no it’s all on my shoulders, but I’m ready for it.”


He’ll be teaming with his best friend and former teammate Justin Fitzwater to helm this new group of Trojans.


“Having him by my side is really great because we work well together, and personally, know what it takes to put together a winning and competitive team.”


On the field they need to replace outgoing NTL Player of the Year Wyatt Hodlofski, and defensive standout Conner Foust, among two others.


“It’s going to be tough losing the core of our team, but we have a lot of good kids that will step up,” said returnee Brady Spalding, whose hoping to take one some leadership roles from Hodlofski. “I learned a lot in the footsteps of Wyatt from how he plays, and his leadership, so I’m just really trying to follow his footsteps.”


It helps that they return their goalie Eli Randall, who was a second team all-star a year ago.


“I like the group of kids we’re working with this year,” said Randall. “We have a couple of new freshmen, and a lot of juniors, and I like working with them. They’re a bunch of good kids.”


Along with Foust, they lost CJ Stanton on defense from a year ago, so there’s going to be an adjustment period in front of him, especially since they like to run the off sides trap.


“Yeah, it’s pretty scary,” admitted Randall.


Midfielder Logan Prouty will be another player looking to step up this year.


“I just like playing both sides of the ball, offense and defense,” he said. 


Their goal this year will be to make districts as they came up short a year ago, going 5-11, but playing in so many close games, they couldn’t gone 8-8.


“We’re running a lot more, and we’re focusing on little details a lot,” Prouty explained. “We’ll do simple drills, and we’ll work on making perfect passes, perfect touches, perfect shots.”


Hodlofski had more than half their goals a year ago, that’s a big percentage they have to make up, but Spalding is one who is going to try to do his share.


“I’m trying to make 50 goals for my senior year,” he said. “I’m just trying to work towards that.”


After watching the way Hodlofski scored a year ago Spalding knows how much a striker can affect the game.


“I just like being in the game, and being able to change the game, and just having control of that,” he said.


Holdren hopes being a younger coach will help him motivate and teach the players better.


“I think they feel more comfortable coming to me about any issues they have,” he said. “It’s helped in the aspect that I’ve been a coach figure to most of them for a while now, and think I have earned their respect.”


Things are different, though, since Holdren played - numbers are lower, and the Trojans aren’t amongst the top tier in the league anymore.


“Now, as a head coach, I’ve had to change my outlook, and realize that we are free in numbers so I must work with what we got,” said Holdren.


However, he feels they can still play with a championship mentality.


“One of the biggest things that I learned when I played was that you never give up on a play, or on the field,” he said. “You can push your body past your breaking point. It’s something that I’m really trying to instill on this younger team that I have.”


Working hard is something the young team is embracing this year.


“We’re going to try and work hard,” Randall said. “Our goal this year is to get to districts at least, and we’re going to work hard all the way up to there.”


ROSTER

Eli Randall

Brady Spalding

Ben Randall

Eason Smith

Carter Lambert

Cole Sterling

Timothy Hornung

Logan Prouty

Hart Houseknecht

Evan Geer

Landon Jenkins

Landon Lambert

Ethan Cole

Andrew Houseknecht

Seth Berry

Hunter Kunzman

Konner Kerr


SCHEDULE

Aug. 31 - Troy at Athens, 4 p.m.

Sep. 3 - Troy at Sullivan County, 10 a.m.

Sep. 7 - Troy at NEB, 4 p.m.

Sep. 10 - Wellsboro at Troy, 10 a.m.

Sep. 14 - Troy at Williamson, 4 p.m.

Sep. 17 - Troy at NEB Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sep. 19 - Sullivan County at Troy, 4:15 p.m.

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

Sep. 24 - NPL at Troy, 10 a.m.

Sep. 28 - Galeton at Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 1 - Troy at Galeton, 10 a.m.

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

Oct. 6 - Athens at Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 - Hughesville at Troy, 11 a.m.

Oct. 11 - Troy at NPL, 4 p.m.

Oct. 13 - Williamson at Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 15 - Troy at Montgomery, 11 a.m.




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