Middlesex blanks Northumberland in season opener
The Middlesex High School (MHS) boys soccer team (2-0) kicked off its season last week with a convincing 7-0 Bristow-Boxley Field win over Northumberland High School (0-2).
This year the team hopes to improve on last year’s 12-7 record and is led by co-captains — junior attacking mid fielder Wyatt St. Louis and senior striker Marek Hanscom.
Both players have been working with the team in the offseason with weightlifting, travel ball experience and indoor soccer.
“We are learning to attack as a group, and move as a unit on the field,” said the team’s head coach, Conley Clark Laster IV. “We need to play selfless soccer to reach the goals we have set for ourselves.”
Coach Laster is optimistic on the new season. “We have a talented group of players and look to be successful in both the Tidewater District and Region 1A this season,” he said.
Defense will be an area of focus this season, Laster said. “This year the team is lucky enough to have Assistant Coach Shawn Haskiell ensure defending stays on the forefront of the team’s mind,” Laster said.
This will be Coach Laster’s fifth year as the head varsity coach for the MHS boys soccer program, but the years are not consecutive. Macky Hall served as head coach last season. “Macky Hall leaves big shoes to fill, he led the team to 12 wins in each of the seasons he coached,” Laster said.
In reflecting on the squad’s March 13 season opening shutout of the Indians, Haskiell named Charger Ichi Layne as the player of the match. “(Layne) anchored the defense and communicated with the players to ensure we kept the shutout for the game.”
During the March 13 game, the offense was led by goal scorers Bishop Hanscom, Marek Hanscom, Nielson McMinn and Wyatt St. Louis. The defense was led by outstanding wing play from Rowan Anderson, Dylan Janisko and Gaige Walden.
“We have a great group of players returning from last season, and some exciting additions that are returning and joining the pitch this season,” Laster said. “Our team is young but talented. With the right mindset the sky is the limit.”
More than 50 students expressed interest in playing boys soccer for the Chargers this season. Both the varsity and junior varsity teams trimmed their rosters down to 17 players each.
Middlesex also defeated King William 9-1 Monday, March 18. Details were unavailable at press time. The Chargers also played Carver College and Career Academy Wednesday, March 20, but the score was unavailable at press time.
Middlesex will next host King & Queen Central this coming Monday, March 25. The kickoff at Bristow-Boxley Field in Saluda is set for 6 p.m.
“We look forward to seeing everyone at the game,” Laster said.
