TONTOGANY — Otsego boys soccer opened the season hosting two Putnam County League schools, Fort Jennings and Miller City.
They are small schools but do not have football, so nearly every boy in school can focus on soccer.
Both teams brought players with enough size and athleticism that they could have suited up, likely started, for the Knights’ football team.
Against Fort Jennings on Saturday, August 12, the Knights held their own, playing the Musketeers to a 0-0 tie.
“This result is considered a win given that we played with zero subs and only had one clean sheet last year,” Otsego coach Ryan Carter said.
“Also, we had the better chances to score. Fort Jennings did hit the post twice though in the second half. It was a grind and well fought match from our boys.”
Miller City returned 10 seniors from a team that had 11 wins last year, and they pummeled the Knights, 7-0, on Wednesday. The Wildcats brought 24 players, more than some small school football teams put on their rosters.
The Wildcats outshot the Knights, 44-4, and three of the Knights’ shots were long free kicks taken directly at the goal.
Miller City had 23 shots on goal to Otsego’s three, and the Wildcats had two goals apiece from senior forwards Ethan Barlage and Silas Niese.
The Wildcats, playing their season opener, are no doubt in for a good run in the PCL, but don’t count Otsego out just yet.
The Knights return nine lettermen from a team that went 9-7 last year and finished third in the Northern Buckeye Conference at 6-4.
“Our strength is the spine of the team from goalkeeper to defenseman to midfielder we’re strong,” Carter said.
“Our weaknesses are low numbers with only 15 players, three of which have never played until now. We also lack a true striker up top.”
Returning are senior captain and midfielder Hudson Thomas, junior captain and midfielder Walker Waitt, junior captain and defender Zachary Eilert, and junior goalkeeper Dylan Jones
Thomas was a first team All-NBC selection last year after garnering 12 goals and six assists and Waitt was second team with five goals and 23 assists.
“Thomas is our dynamo and bulldog. He’s equal parts power and skill,” Carter said. “Hudson can play at the next level. He possesses great control and footwork, can finish from outside the box and is always willing to roll up the sleeves for the cause, a true grafter.
“Waitt has a real eye for line breaking passes, great at finding spaces and exposing defenses. He’s a constant threat going forward.
“Walker already has schools like Indiana and Penn State looking at him. He has excellent vision and is dangerous playing balls on set pieces. The physical side of his game is always improving. He makes our offense tick.”
Carter believes those two and others are capable of earning all-league honors.
The Otsego coach says Jones has the potential to be second or even first team all-conference in goal after missing honorable mention by one vote last year, which was also his first year to ever play soccer.
Carter says Eilert, who plays “balling center back,” is “great at slide tackling” and the “commander and leader of our back line.” Eilert takes the team’s goal kicks and had four non-goalie saves against MC on Wednesday.
Senior defender Luke Fuller is only in his second year playing soccer but could earn honorable mention all-league with a good season, says Carter. Carter says Fuller has “great fitness” and “works hard up and down the field.”
Carter believes he has others who could improve as the season continues, which Otsego will need if they want to win games.
Two who are showing improvement is junior forward Silas Robertson and sophomore midfielder Jason Gunn Jr.
“Last season was his (Robertson) first playing soccer,” Carter said. “This year he has the knowhow and physical attributes to be a starter and make a difference. His foot skills have drastically improved. He still needs work but he’s hungry to up his game this year.
“Jason is a sophomore returning to soccer after a hiatus (did not play as a freshman or in eighth grade).
“He has all the intangibles you want in a player. He brings a great attitude, tireless effort, and real desire to learn the game, coupled with his natural speed and ever improving ball skills he could be a contributor in attack.”
Carter believes the Knights can finish fourth in the NBC with Maumee, Genoa and Lake picked as the top teams.
“We feel confident in our ability to finish ahead of Eastwood, Rossford and Oak Harbor,” Carter said.
“Hopefully the league isn’t too top heavy with Maumee joining. It’ll be interesting to see how it shakes out only playing each team once. With only six games each one will really matter and be a dogfight.”
A new addition to the team is foreign exchange student Linus Appel, who just arrived in Northwest Ohio this week and won’t be available to the team until their Aug. 22 game hosting Defiance as long as his eligibility is approved.
“Linus is an unknown quantity,” Carter said. “He’s a midfielder from Germany and will likely be a massive addition.”
