Big Shoes to Fill for Boys' Soccer

The Spring-Ford Rams boys' soccer squad is coming off its first ever PAC-10 Championship and is gearing up for another big season. However, you won't see many familiar faces on this year's team.

Eighth year head coach Doug Landis reported the loss of 12 players from last year's team - 10 seniors and two underclassman transfers. Ten of the 12 lost players were starters.

"Last year’s team was probably the best team that’s ever gone through Spring-Ford," Landis said. "We finished off 18-1-2. We were undefeated in the regular season and won our league championship. We lost in the quarterfinals of districts against Strat Haven in double overtime."

Jackson Ranheim was one of the two to transfer out. His parents moved to Italy. The other transfer was Jake Harriger, who is now in the Pittsburgh area. Notable seniors include Eric Giovagnoli, who now plays at Eastern University, and Anthony Merchant, who plays at Montgomery County Community College, but is looking to transfer to play at another school.

Last year, Landis had three or four players that got some playing time, including Josh Dishman and Will Kelleher, who split time. Another key component to this year's squad will be Wes Counts, a goalkeeper who played in 10 games due to the injury of Jeremy Mulders. Counts didn't lose one game last year.

"It’s a nice little core I have coming back," said Landis. "Those players have since stepped into that role as the leaders of the team. They’re really shining on the field right now, showing their leadership and taking the team in the right direction.

"Last year, I had a lot of great players," Landis continued. "I think I had seven all-league players and they were all seniors or one of those two underclassmen that left. These other underclassmen really didn’t have that chance to shine. It was always the other players. Now that they are gone, these kids see that it’s their opportunity to make due or make promise to defend this title. They’re doing a great job so far."

As for the underclassmen, it’s kind of the same story, according to Landis. Those boys didn’t have the opportunity to play last year because there were very limited spots. Now they’re stepping into these roles to fill varsity spots and Landis said they’re also doing a good job.

With such a tough division within the PAC-10, Landis doesn't see it as being easy, but he knows his team will stay competitive. The boys open up against Boyertown, who they knocked out of the PAC-10 championship run last year, but took the title the year before.

Other division rivals include Perkiomen Valley, Owen J. Roberts and Methacton. OJR won the league championship four years in a row a few years back. The non-league games will prove a challenge, as well, with Upper Darby, Exeter and Daniel Boone all being highlighted on the Rams' radar. Despite all of that, Landis is still optimistic.

"My expectations are high," he said. "We’re coming off of a PAC-10 championship – the first in history. The team has confidence. I have confidence that we can fill those holes that have since formed since last year and go at these teams. I have the utmost confidence that we can do it."

Boys' Soccer 2011-2012 Schedule

9/2 - Season/Home Opener vs. Boyertown H.S. (4:00 p.m.)

9/7 - Home vs. Methacton (4:00 p.m.)

9/10 - Away @ Daniel Boone Area H.S. (5:45 p.m.)

9/13 - Home vs. Owen J. Roberts (7:00 p.m.)

9/15 - Away @ Perkiomen Valley (4:00 p.m.)

9/19 - Home vs. Pottsgrove H.S. (5:00 p.m.)

9/21 - Away @ Upper Perkiomen (7:00 p.m.)

9/23 - Home vs. Phoenixville H.S. (7:00 p.m.)

9/24 - Away @ Plymouth-Whitemarsh (7:00 p.m.)

9/28 - Home vs. Pope John Paul II H.S. (7:00 p.m.)

9/29 - Away @ Upper Darby (3:45 p.m.)

9/30 - Away @ Pottstown H.S. (4:00 p.m.)

10/3 - Away @ Boyertown H.S. (4:00 p.m.)

10/5 - Away @ Methacton (4:00 p.m.)

10/7 - Away @ Penncrest (3:45 p.m.)

10/8 - Home vs. Exeter (10:00 a.m.)

10/11 - Away @ Owen J. Roberts (4:00 p.m.)

10/11 - Away @ Owen J. Roberts (7:00 p.m.)

10/13 - Home vs. Perkiomen Valley (7:00 p.m.)