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FORTY FORT — The story of the Holy Redeemer boys soccer team’s 2017 campaign is a bit two-fold.
The Royals had seven underclassman starting, and eight new starters altogether, when they took on Wyoming Seminary on Wednesday. With all of that youth, this season is a learning experience full of big-time minutes for most of the team.
But at the same time, they have a big three in junior Lucas Barnak and seniors Eric Schramm and Devin Dougherty that will provide enough offensive power to keep the Royals in just about every game this season. In fact, after Friday’s 4-1 win over MMI Prep, the Royals sit fifth in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 standings, and just two games back from second-place Meyers, in the loss column.
“It’s huge to give them critical minutes like this, just because next year they’re going to start being the leaders as a bunch of sophomores,” Royals head coach Mike Davitt said of his youth. “That’s how the program develops and you get a consistent program. It really starts from the top and you work your way down.
“We laid the foundation last year and we’re just progressing along. Forget the wins and losses, it’s the play on the field that matters to me.”
While the Royals did fall to the rival Blue Knights, 3-2, on Wednesday, they fought back in the second half to give themselves a chance to tie the game at the end of regulation.
Facing a pair of two-goal deficits late in the second half, Barnak answered the bell each time, cutting the deficit to just one goal. The Royals just ran out of time.
“It really shows the character of our boys, and it really shows the rivalry we have and it makes the young guys look forward to the future, saying, ‘OK, well this is the way varsity soccer’s played. Lets progress,’ ” Davitt said.
“Our freshmen show a lot of character,” Barnak said. “We have a lot of stuff to prove still. Definitely have a positive future. Have a lot of talent on the team.”
The Royals play on Wednesday grabbed both the attention of Seminary junior midfielder Edge Miller, who had a pair of goals in the win, and head coach Rev. Charles Carrick.
Even though the Royals are flooded with youth, the threat of Barnak, Schramm and Dougherty made Holy Redeemer a tough out for the Blue Knights.
“You just keep putting pressure on the ball and you force them to either play the ball. If they make a mistake, they capitalize on it, but you keep putting pressure on them,” Carrick said. “Yeah, Barnak and Schramm, good players. They control the ball well and at times they hold the ball and look for the play to develop —support — and they’re dangerous. They’re dangerous in the final third.
“I tell my guys, it’s a game where 10, 15 seconds of a mental lapse is the game — changes it.”
Just because 80 percent of the Royals roster consists of underclassmen doesn’t mean Davitt has high expectations for his squad this season.
With a hard-fought loss against the Blue Knights and a tie against third-place Berwick, the second-year head coach believes that the long-term future isn’t the only thing that’s bright for Holy Redeemer. The immediate future is, too.
“Having three players with that caliber, we’re not an easy game,” Davitt said of Barnak, Schramm and Dougherty. “Everybody has to prepare for us. If they want to say, ‘Hey, we’ll prepare for those three, so be it. We have other guys who are starting to step up.’ As long as we’re getting better as the season progresses, like we are, once districts come, I think we’re going to be a tough out.”