By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
MILLBURY — The Lake boys soccer team, which returns over 70% of its offensive production from a year ago, opens the regular season Saturday with high expectations.
The Flyers are bringing back their top two scorers, Travis Merrill and Greyson Reed, who were both named First Team All-NBC. Merrill, a senior striker, recorded team-bests in goals (24) and assists (11), while fellow senior Reed finished second in both categories with 15 goals and 10 assists.
On top of that, the team returns five of its top seven offensive producers overall — all five of which were all-conference players.
“I hope to pick up right where we left off,” 15th-year Lake coach Brian Reed said. “My juniors are seniors now, and we have a couple good young guys coming in. We have a couple spots we’re still trying to figure out, but for the most part I think we’re pretty solid.”
Outside of Merrill and Reed, who is the head coach’s son, Lake returns Second Team All-NBC selections Micah Balsmeyer (three goals, five assists), Preston Snyder (six goals, nine assists) and Jonathan Specht (five goals, six assists).
Honorable Mention All-NBC goalkeeper, Mitchell Maguire, who produced a team-best 63 saves as a sophomore, is also back.
“Travis is back. Greyson is back. Specht is a very strong player at outside back,” Reed said. “Maguire is playing stronger and stronger every game. We’re pretty strong in a lot of places.”
Mason Sneed, who scored four goals in 2022, also returns to the team after taking last season off.
Lake participated in scrimmages at Lima Bath and Yellow Springs, the latter of which they won their group before finishing 4-1 behind wins over Yellow Springs, West Liberty-Salem, Fairborn and Lakewood.
“Defensively, we have some new guys in the back, so I’d like to continue to strengthen that,” Reed said. “We have a freshman in the midfield (Keegan Perry) so we need to keep an eye on him, and we have Mason back. He’s playing phenomenal right now.”
The Flyers finished 12-5-1 last year, falling just shy of an NBC championship after a loss to Maumee in the regular season finale. They captured the sectional title over Toledo Christian and advanced to the district semifinals before falling to Evergreen.
Three key players from that team are gone due to graduation, including Second Team All-NBC players, Jackson Gladieux and Auggie Warton, as well as team captain and Honorable Mention All-NBC, Gael Rios. Five seniors overall departed.
Lake opens the regular season at home this Saturday against Evergreen at 3 p.m.
“We’re ready to have fun,” Reed said.
