Bowling Green scorer Tomas Meek (14), center, moves the ball against Maumee defenders during the second half of a district semifinal match on October 24 at Lake Community Stadium last year. (Scott W. Grau/Sentinel-Tribune file)
Bowling Green boys soccer improved to 2-0 behind a three-goal hat trick from senior Grant Sonner, leading to a 6-1 non-league victory over Lake at Bobcat Stadium Saturday.
Junior Luca Brininger scored twice and junior forward Tomas Meek added one goal for the Bobcats. Lake’s only goal was scored on a BG own goal.
In the season opener, BG senior goalkeeper Max Haynes had a clean sheet as the Bobcats shutout Clay, 3-0, at Clay Memorial Stadium on August 22. Meek, Brininger, and senior defenseman Ethan Decker scored for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats return 11 letter winners from last year’s team that went 11-8-2 overall and 2-4-1 in the Northern Lakes League. In addition, BG won a Division II district championship and reached the regional tournament.
In a revamped Northern Lakes League with the Bobcats only competing with the other five smaller schools for a league title in the Cardinal Division, there is renewed hope BG can compete for a championship.
“We hope to finish towards the top of the Cardinal Division,” fifth-year coach Josh Fox said. “Even though the league has changed, and we won’t be competing against Anthony Wayne, Perrysburg, or Northview, we know it will still be one of the top leagues in the area.
“It will be interesting playing each team twice and how players respond after the first result. Will they be overconfident after a win or unable to bounce back after a tough loss?
“We have large senior and junior classes that are experienced and have played a lot of minutes at the varsity level. We do well in possession and build up our attack.”
Besides those already scoring, other key players returning are senior defenders Eli Metzger and Chad Mierzejewski and senior midfielder Cole Ash.
Metzger was a third team All-NLL and honorable mention selection, garnering eight points on four goals last year, and Ash was honorable mention all-district with 27 points on 11 goals and five assists.
“Cole Ash is an integral part of our season last year as a junior,” Fox said. “He has worked real hard this season to be a senior leader and top player.”
Metzger is a four-year varsity player and two-year varsity captain.
“He has played a lot of minutes for us and is always so reliable as one of our last defenders,” Fox said.
Meek led the team in scoring with 37 points on 12 goals and 13 assists, Brininger had 11 points on five goals and an assist, Decker had nine points on four goals and an assist, and Sonner had eight points on three goals and two assists last year.
“Tomas Meek is a really unselfish player who sets up his teammates for goal scoring opportunities,” said Fox. “He is also a very talented individual player who can create his own opportunities.
“Luca Brininger is very fast which allows him to run onto balls and beat defenders,” Fox continued.
“Luca worked real hard this summer during conditioning, lifting, and open field sessions. It seems the game has really slowed down for him, and he is seeing things on the field very well. He has scored a lot of goals this preseason in scrimmages and tournaments. “
“Grant Sonner battled an injury last season but is healthy this year. He is very fast which allows him to run onto balls and beat defenders. His pressure on defenders also creates turnovers leading to scoring opportunities.
“Ethan Decker will be a key rotational player off the bench who always has an eye on scoring goals.”
Veteran midfield, back line
Seniors Dempsey Fox and Carter Broshious complete the midfield.
“Dempsey Fox has been a role player for the past two seasons on varsity, but will now be a starter,” Coach Fox said. “He does a lot of little things that may go unnoticed in possession and defensively.
“Carter Broshious has been around the program for a long time and will now get his chance to play a lot of minutes. Similar to Dempsey, he does a lot of little things that might go unnoticed.”
Rounding out the defense are Mierzejewski, a three-year varsity player, and Paul Archer.
“Chad Mierzejewski is very smart and sees the game well,” Coach Fox said. “He puts players in positions they need to be in to help us be successful defensively.
“Paul Archer has been waiting his turn behind other upperclassmen. Now he gets the chance to play a lot of minutes along our back line. Paul stepped into our regional semifinal last season and played exceptionally.”
As a result, Haynes, as BG’s No. 1 goalkeeper, is part of a defensive unit that did not allow a goal in eight games last season.
Fox says multiple seniors “have expressed an interest in playing at the next level and are exploring their options using different recruiting platforms.”
There are others making an appearance with the varsity who Fox believes will make an impact.
“Austin Lewis, Owen Cleland, Nolan Feehan, Aden Kendrick, and Hayden Fox have all gotten a lot of minutes this preseason and will all be important rotational players,” Coach Fox said.
The BG coach says the program has several challenges that will have to be addressed.
“The number of players in the program is down from previous years. We must balance relying on our experience, but also preparing players for the future,” Fox said.
“Despite the lower numbers than normal, we found out we would be moved back up to Division I due to a small increase in enrollment.”
Fox’s all-time record is 28-38-8. He was also the head coach of Maumee girls soccer in 2018, leading the Panthers to a 7-9-2 season after spending one year as an assistant at Maumee and two years as an assistant with the Toledo Whitmer boys team.
