Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Second-year Eastwood head coach Curtis Smallwood looks to help guide a team that featured a lot of inexperience last year, especially in the back third of the field.
"When I took over last year, I felt like my staff and I had to teach the boys how to play organized soccer,” he said. “The majority of the team lacked many fundamentals, positional awareness, communication and the ability process. Although last year’s record didn't show it, by October they were able to improve in all aspects, even scoring more goals than the last two years combined.
“However, we conceded quite a bit (of goals) due to a pair of first year goalkeepers and a back line that wasn't comfortable playing in transition, which has been an area of focus during this preseason."
Another tough aspect of last year was early season injuries to the team’s two seniors, which ultimately helped contribute to a 2-12-4 record overall, including a 1-4-1 mark in Northern Buckeye Conference play.
This year, the Eagles will feature a seven-member senior class, including goalkeeper Caden Oberhouse, who had a team-best 131 saves.
The center half will feature two reigning All-NBC seniors - Hunter Wilson (first team) and Nolan Taylor (honorable mention), while midfielders Austin Miller (second team), Cody Lutz (honorable mention) and Jonas Bushman (honorable mention) are also looking to repeat with league honors.
Miller led the team with 10 goals last year, while adding six assists. Lutz produced a team-best nine assists.
Raif Johnson is the last of the seven seniors.
“He’s my Swiss Army knife,” Smallwood said. “He will make an impact at any position on the pitch.”
Joining them are a trio of potential breakout sophomores. Fullbacks Ayden Heuerman and Everett Ward are two of them, and Smallwood said they have played well in the preseason. He also had high praise for Aiden Taylor.
“(Taylor) is by far our most technically gifted player,” Smallwood said. “I believe his play will be crucial for our success this season.”
Dustin Schimmoeller, an Eastwood grad, was recently hired as the team’s goalkeeping coach, and Smallwood said he will be a key addition along with a few rookies.
“We have a few freshmen who have played (at a) high level (in) club and will look to have an impact playing JV and possibly coming off the bench for the varsity squad,” he said.
Overall, Smallwood said his team’s biggest potential strength will come at the midfield spot and that his toughest battle will be separating players between varsity and JV.
"Like any of the teams I coach, I'm always excited,” Smallwood said. “My expectation for this group is to improve upon last season's record and win the conference. Our varsity players possess the individual qualities to excel at this level, but it will be their responsibility as a team to execute and deliver a result on match day."
