9-21-2023 9:38am

Hononegah soccer kicks off season

Hononegah senior Aiden Ehrlich is known for his perfect goal box throw-ins. Photo: Natalie Fry

Hononegah's varsity boys' soccer team currently has a 3-7-2 record for the 2023 season. Top players to note are senior Mason Oberheim (#21), senior Aiden Ehrlich (#12), and freshman Jacob Wright (#3).

Oberheim has scored two goals this season including the game-tying header off of a free-kick by #13, Grant White, against GHS. Ehrlich is a striker with 2 goals and an assist already on the books this year. #12 is also known for his perfect goal box throw-ins. Thirdly, and quite impressively, Jacob Wright: the one and only freshman who earned a spot on the varsity team, a spot that he certainly deserves.

In their game facing Guilford, the varsity team kept the score tied through a 20 minute overtime and took the win after rounds of penalty kicks. The final shot was scored by Oberheim (#21). The team is projected to take back their winning title as the year goes on.

The JV soccer team is carrying a 4-4-5 overall running account. In their recent matches against Harvard and Guilford, the team ended on 1-1 and 0-0 ties. Their goalie, freshman Oliver Campbell, remarkably saved a nail-biting shot in the last 20 seconds, protecting the team from a loss against the Hornets.

Another player to mention is sophomore Sammy McCormick (#4). Sammy is an impenetrable wall and an indispensable defender for the team. It is also crucial to note the most overall aggressive players on the team, freshmen Jack Deinhammer (#10) and Tyler McCormick (#6). Their next game will be on Tuesday, 9/26, preceding the varsity event.

Leading the Hononegah boys division, the freshman team has a 8-4 record. Their top scoring players are Greysen Merrill (#19) with 5 goals and Jacob Neilsen (#7) with 4 so far this season. Merrill is famously aggressive on the field and has earned himself the nickname “freight train”. Nielsen, on the other hand, is an astonishingly agile, left-footed player who excels at corner kicks aimed perfectly at the goal box. They recently faced off against Harlem for the second time and took their second win at 1-0. The match point was scored near the end of the game by striker, Joaquin Rodriguez (#27).

Their next game is against Boylan on Monday, 9/25, at home.

Natalie Fry is a freshman in the class of 2027 at Hononegah Community High School. She has had a great interest in writing since she was young. Her reporting can also be found in Hononegah Highlights.