Phil Weirich was shocked the first time he was voted team captain for Oak Harbor's soccer team. He knew how

All-Ohio player Phil Weirich dribbles downfield during Oak Harbor’s match with Woodmore. (Press photo by Dean Utendorf/ www.woodmorephotos.com).

 rare it was for a sophomore to be given such an honor by his peers.

“I didn't expect it,” said Weirich, now a senior and a three-year captain. “The fact that it happened showed that my teammates supported me. Apparently they thought it was for the best. At first I was nervous about it, but it kind of sank in as the season went on.”

Weirich has proven his worth as a captain – and scorer – during his four-year career. Weirich and his fellow seniors are the key reason that the Rockets were able to clinch this year's Sandusky Bay Conference championship, according to sixth-year coach Rob Schimmoeller.

“Senior leadership - they've really come together as a group,” Schimmoeller said. “I have a dozen seniors and six of them start. They have great chemistry as a group.”

Weirich helped the Rockets capture their first boys SBC soccer title two years ago. They finished third in the conference in 2009 but advanced to the Division II district finals. Oak Harbor takes a 13-2 record (8-1 SBC) into Thursday's regular-season finale at Sandusky Perkins.

“It really means a lot,” Weirich said of winning the SBC. “My sophomore year we won the first title in Oak Harbor history, but we shared it with Perkins. This one means a lot to win it by ourselves. We kind of had a feeling we were going to win the league this year.”

Weirich, a first-team All-SBC pick and second-team All-Ohio selection last season, has 28 goals and 15 assists this season and owns the school record for career goals. Weirich's 98 goals surpassed the previous record of 94, set by Nic Kleman from 2003-06.

“Before my junior year, I looked at the record and didn't expect to make it this far or contend for the record,” Weirich said. “I had a feeling I could tie the record or break it. I'm really gunning for 100 goals. That's been my goal since the beginning of this year.”

Only 26 boys in Ohio prep history have scored more than 100 career goals, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Weirich's current total puts him tied for 30th on the all-time list with Dylan Hoop of Cincinnati Christian (2006-08).

“Phil is a real good finisher near the net. He has an accurate shot,” Schimmoeller said. “He has that ability that when he gets in close, he can make a defender stab and miss and go around him and score. He has real good soccer smarts and he's an excellent passer, too. He's not a ball hog at all. Several Division II and Division III schools are looking at him.”

Weirich hasn't done it all by himself this season. Senior midfielder Tyler Eoff, who earned first-team All-SBC and all-district honors last season, has 15 goals and 12 assists.

“He's our main ballhandler out of the center midfielder spot,” Schimmoeller said. “He gets the most chances. Phil and Tyler have played together since they were little kids. They've got great chemistry out on the field, and Tyler is tremendously quick.”

Senior forward Ian Miller, the 2010 state wrestling champion at 145 pounds, has 16 goals and seven assists in just his second year playing soccer.

“Ian plays tremendously hard,” Schimmoeller said. “He has that wrestling background and he's just a competitor. He's very athletic, and you know you're going to get 100 percent out of him the whole time.”

Senior left midfielder Alex Swope, an honorable mention All-SBC pick last season, has five goals and six assists.

“He has a hockey background and he is a competitor who will go at you 100 percent,” Schimmoeller said. “I have a lot of kids who are really competitive. I like our chances of winning a 50-50 ball because we've become real aggressive with that type of situation.”

Senior Myles Backus, who is also a kicker for the Rockets' football team, booted a 25-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give Oak Harbor a 10-7 win over rival Port Clinton on Oct. 1. Backus has 10 assists for the soccer squad.

“He's our defensive center-mid, depending on the opponent, and we'll occasionally use him to mark the opposing team's best player,” Schimmoeller said. “He's probably our fastest kid. He was our last line of defense last year, but he was too good of a passer and too skilled with the ball to keep him in a defensive position.”

Senior stopper D.J. Reau, who leads the team in steals, is a two-time unanimous first-team All-SBC pick who sets the tone for the Rockets' defense.

“D.J. is tremendously aggressive,” Schimmoeller said. “He's the team's Energizer bunny - he's all over the field.”

Left defender J.J. Rathbun, midfielder Anthony Hopkins and right midfielder Cadan Goldstein have two goals apiece this season. Junior goalie Trent Lacer, in his first year as a full-time starter, has 82 saves.

“Trent has definitely come through and done a tremendous job,” Schimmoeller said. “Generally, if he can get a hand on the ball, he will catch it. He's only given up 10 goals in 15 games, so that's not too shabby.”

Oak Harbor opens sectional tournament play against Clyde on Saturday at Lake. The winner will face either Port Clinton or Waite.

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