2019 Fairfield Lions Boys Soccer Preview
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Fairfield Lions haven’t had the success on the soccer fields they would have had liked in recent memory, but the 2019 season is a fresh start and a new season for the Lions to gain the success they want.
Fairfield has nine lettermen returning to the roster for the upcoming season with the varsity team consisting of six seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and one freshman. FHS is coached by Jacob Alexander, with the assistant coaches being Zach Campbell and Jason Ayers.
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Seniors for the Lions are James Bentley, Jordan Cameron, Brayden Grooms, Ethan Saunders, Justin Sowders and Braighton Wise. The juniors for FHS are Bryce McVay, Lane Sparks and Tucker Watson.
Sophomores this season for the Lions are Jon Bentley, Hunter Burns, Reese Teeters and Koben Zink. The lone freshman on the roster is Wyatt Morrow.
“Our returning seniors are who we are looking at this year, I have a good core of guys that have played three to four years that will be counted on and will be the key to the team’s ultimate fate,” Alexander said. “James Bentley has been heavily relied upon at goal, and Jordan Cameron is going to be our most skilled player in the midfield.”
Cameron led the Lions in goals scored last season with four. Zink was next with two goals to his credit for the Lions in ’18. As the keeper for the Lions in ’18, Bentley totaled 136 saves, averaging 10.5 saves per game.
“Brayden Grooms is going to add to some experience to our front line,” Alexander said.” Ethan Saunders is going to be a big leader on this team and will be playing multiple positions, and Justin Sowders will be heading our back line.”
The Lions’ last win came in the ’16 season, but this year they will continue to work to not only gain that first win since then, but they are working to have multiple wins this season. Fairfield came close to a win on multiple occasions, losing seven games by two or fewer goals, including their sectional tournament game to Peebles by a 1-0 score.
“The expectations for this season are to win a few games and hopefully get this program back on track,” Alexander said. “My goal for these seniors is to leave the program in better shape than when they came into it.”
Working toward those goals to add wins in ’19 began this summer, with the Lions having players work through the summer heat to improve at the game.
“We had a consistent few who showed up this summer and made a great strides in their development,” Alexander said of the summer for the Lions. “Chemistry and basics. We need to be better teammates and be more positive. Results can start to wear on a person, and we need to overcome that. We also need to remember to do the basics and not to try too much.”
The Lions open the ’19 season on Monday, Aug. 19 at home against the Portsmouth Clay Panthers at 5 p.m.
Fairfield has nine lettermen returning to the roster for the upcoming season with the varsity team consisting of six seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and one freshman. FHS is coached by Jacob Alexander, with the assistant coaches being Zach Campbell and Jason Ayers.
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Seniors for the Lions are James Bentley, Jordan Cameron, Brayden Grooms, Ethan Saunders, Justin Sowders and Braighton Wise. The juniors for FHS are Bryce McVay, Lane Sparks and Tucker Watson.
Sophomores this season for the Lions are Jon Bentley, Hunter Burns, Reese Teeters and Koben Zink. The lone freshman on the roster is Wyatt Morrow.
“Our returning seniors are who we are looking at this year, I have a good core of guys that have played three to four years that will be counted on and will be the key to the team’s ultimate fate,” Alexander said. “James Bentley has been heavily relied upon at goal, and Jordan Cameron is going to be our most skilled player in the midfield.”
Cameron led the Lions in goals scored last season with four. Zink was next with two goals to his credit for the Lions in ’18. As the keeper for the Lions in ’18, Bentley totaled 136 saves, averaging 10.5 saves per game.
“Brayden Grooms is going to add to some experience to our front line,” Alexander said.” Ethan Saunders is going to be a big leader on this team and will be playing multiple positions, and Justin Sowders will be heading our back line.”
The Lions’ last win came in the ’16 season, but this year they will continue to work to not only gain that first win since then, but they are working to have multiple wins this season. Fairfield came close to a win on multiple occasions, losing seven games by two or fewer goals, including their sectional tournament game to Peebles by a 1-0 score.
“The expectations for this season are to win a few games and hopefully get this program back on track,” Alexander said. “My goal for these seniors is to leave the program in better shape than when they came into it.”
Working toward those goals to add wins in ’19 began this summer, with the Lions having players work through the summer heat to improve at the game.
“We had a consistent few who showed up this summer and made a great strides in their development,” Alexander said of the summer for the Lions. “Chemistry and basics. We need to be better teammates and be more positive. Results can start to wear on a person, and we need to overcome that. We also need to remember to do the basics and not to try too much.”
The Lions open the ’19 season on Monday, Aug. 19 at home against the Portsmouth Clay Panthers at 5 p.m.