By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The Salem Academy Boys Soccer team had one of those memorial seasons last Fall.
Their seven victories, the most the program has gotten dating back to the 2013-2014 season. And they came just within reach of the 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 League Playoffs and their 18th spot in the rankings just put themselves out of the State Playoffs.
But this year, they’re back. Another year older and another year of experience under their belts as they look to get over the hump in the new stand-alone 3A Classification.
“We did great and I got a lot of great talent (last year) and I got the majority of that team again this year, I think we’re going to be good this year,” said second-year Head Coach John Crespin. “I’m hopeful, I’m confident in the boys. I got a strong front line, my defense is pretty tough. I got my goalie from last year as well and thankfully I got him again next year.
“My main focus is to get the boys to Districts, pushing them that far. I believe that they can do it. It’s going to start with the defense and that’s where it’s going to build. If we can mitigate the goals, cut away the points we gave away from last year, I think it’s definitely going to be a double-digit win season. That’s for sure.”
Somto Nwaele leads the front line. Strong junior class that features Andrew Bingham returning as the squad’s starting goalie and Andrew Beede, who Crespin pointed out last year as a freshman wanting to play defense and his ability to apply pressure helped the young soccer player adjust to the new position.
For the squad, playing in the old 3A/2A/1A classification that had some harden playoff caliber teams like Dayton, Blanchet and Delphian, it shaped the program last year and it showed the Crusaders what it takes to achieve their goals of getting to League Playoffs, the State Playoffs and be successful in both.
“It’s a high level, but we have that capacity to play at that level, we just got to get there,” said Bingham. “We wanted to do a lot better last year…(Last year) drove us a lot, we were so close to going to the playoffs and we don’t want to miss that out again.”
Salem Academy heads to Stayton to play in the Stayton jamboree before hosting Sisters on August 29 to open the season.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
