NTL BOYS' SOCCER: TOWANDA LOOKS TO TURN THINGS AROUND IN 2024 (2024-08-19)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Towanda boys’ soccer comes into this season senior heavy and looking to build off last year’s season which, despite finishing under .500, saw them competitive in most of their matches.

“I’m very excited for the season,” said Rian Hennessy. “I think we have a lot of potential to do very great things.”

Their backline of Connor Barnes, Hennessy, and Owen Lane have been playing together for much of their career, while they also return center-mid Jack Wheaton.

“I’ve been working on connecting passes, and fluidity between our team,” Wheaton said. “I love it there, I love distributing the passes.”

Last year’s top goal scorer, Michael Ferrulli, graduated so look for Wheaton to be a little more aggressive around the box.

“I will be attacking the goal more,” remarked Wheaton. “I’ve been working on shooting on target, and pushing forward while dribbling.”

On the defensive end Barnes has been leading things back there since he was a freshman.

“It’s not that scary, this is my fourth year now,” he said. “I’m pretty used to it, I’m excited to play it.”

Hennessy will be on his right with Lane on his left. They already have pretty good chemistry back there, but they know they can be better.

“I think we’ll keep up what we did last year, but also talk more, move more, make sure we’re in line with each other, and knowing what we’re doing at all times, instead of just running around,” Hennessy said.

The players credit a busy off-season for their optimism, a sense that they feel like they’re starting to turn a corner.

“We did a lot of 7-on-7 tournament,” said Lane. “It helped us learn where people should be - that helped with positioning a lot - definitely more than our season games did. That gives me a lot of hope for this year. I think we’ll be a lot closer with a lot teams. Like Athens last year, we were very close, and we’ve never been close with them.”

As a team they’re looking for more ball control, especially out of their backline.

“A lot of what we need is good touches and better passing,” Lane said.

The Knights hope that leads to more transition opportunities, especially with Wheaton in the midfield.

“I think instead of just betting the ball up actually move it geothermal, and then go up with each other,” remarked Hennessy. “We get the ball to (Jack) to distribute.”

It’s not just veterans Towanda has, though, as coach Tom Lambert likes what he sees from his newcomers.

“We’ve actually got some younger kids that came out, they’re really a plus in this team,” he said. 

The goal for this year is no secret, the team wants to finally get to .500 and get that district berth.

“It’s my fifth year so that’s what I’m shooting for,” Lambert said.

Barnes feels this year is the year they can finally get to that mark.

“I think we have better leadership that goes on,” he said. “I just think we want it more. I think we want to get better and just work together as a team. We’re tired of the losing mentality that this program has had in the past.”

ROSTER

Connor Barnes

Jack Wheaton

Rian Hennessy

Owen Lane

Nate West

Giovanni Asstante Di Cupillo

Mason Harbst

Reed young

Sam Fulmer

Calogero (Charlie) Mignano

Ben Shrawder

Blaiz Nichols

Colt Williams

Hudson Stevens

Brayden Spencer

Braiden Murray

Noah Dalton

Dalton Johnson

Josh Maye

SCHEDULE

Aug. 26 at Sullivan County, 4 p.m.

Aug. 28 at Williamson, 4 p.m.

Sep. 3 vs Troy, 6 p.m.

Sep. 5 vs Galeton, 6 p.m.

Sep. 7 vs SCA, 1 p.m.

Sep. 10 vs NPL, 6 p.m.

Sep. 12 at NEB, 4 p.m.

Sep. 14 vs Wellsboro, 10 a.m.

Sep. 16 vs Montgomery, 6 p.m.

Sep. 18 at Athens, 5:30 p.m.

Sep. 25 vs NEB, 4 p.m.

Sep. 28 at Galeton, 10 a.m.

Sep. 30 at Meadowbrook, 4 p.m.

Oct. 2 vs Athens, 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 at NPL, 4 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 12 vs Montrose, 1 p.m.

Oct. 15 at Shamokin, 5 p.m.

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