PERRYSBURG — Perrysburg junior forward Brayden Heitmeyer scored the Yellow Jackets’ lone goal to force a 1-1 tie with Toledo St. Francis in both soccer teams’ opener at Steinecker Stadium Friday.

After a scoreless first half, Heitmeyer’s second half goal came with 27 minutes remaining to put Perrysburg on the board first, but the Knights responded by scoring on a penalty kick with six minutes remaining.

Heitmeyer missed nearly all of last season with a back injury, so Perrysburg coach Dennis Jeansonne was hoping he would “be a breakout scorer this year.”

Heitmeyer is off to a good start. Jeansonne says “his speed and powerful shot will give him more (scoring) opportunities than most.”

Perrysburg, the defending Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division champions, were Division I district runners-up last year, finishing the season 16-2-2, which was program’s the best record in over 20 years.

The NLL championship was the first for Perrysburg in 13 years, and coach Jeansonne, entering his fifth year, is now 43-19-13 after the tie with St. Francis Friday. Jeansonne has 10 lettermen returning this year.

Jeansonne says defending will be a challenge.

“Our goal is to return as league champs again but we will have great competition as the other NLL teams are very strong like Anthony Wayne and Northview,” the Perrysburg coach said.

“I truly believe all teams have lost significant impact players over the past two years so honestly, the competition will be great as everyone has had to hit the reset button.

“Our style and execution of that style are our strengths. We play a possession based game to limit our opponent’s opportunities and have highly skilled players at every position to execute the game plans. We have quite a bit of pace all over and will use that to our advantage, too.”

The Jackets will have to overcome major losses to graduation.

“We lost some amazing goal scorers who accounted for 75% of our goals last season,” Jeansonne said. “That’s tough to replace but with the spine of our team returning, we’re looking to create new ways to score and with new players.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we have a slow start finding the net but then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t. Either way, after the first few weeks, we will find our stride and be tough to deal with.

“We lack high end scoring…we lost all of our key goal scorers last year so we’ll need to find new ways to score and see who steps up to be those players.”

Key players returning this year include three central midfielders and returning starters Dylan Motter and Omar Touray, both seniors, and junior Chase Jeansonne. Chase Jeansonne and Motter were both second team All-NLL last year.

“Chase Jeansonne, Dylan Motter and Omar Touray are three returning starters who controlled our midfield and games last year,” coach Jeansonne said. “Their chemistry is outstanding and they’ll lead our attack. Our game play will run through them.”

Chase Jeansonne scored three goals with eight assists, Motter had two goals and four assists, and returnee Caden Grissler had three goals and two assists and London Stock had four goals and four assists.

Coach Jeansonne expects Stock and Heitmeyer to be the team’s top forwards with Sawyer Scheff “close behind.”

“London and Brayden have great pace and can finish around the goal,” coach Jeansonne said. “Brayden has a very powerful strike too and he’ll be on most of our set pieces looking to score.

“Sawyer is a skillful and powerful forward who will use his body to protect the ball to get goal scoring opportunities.”

Returning starters on defense include senior Isaac Klapper and junior Evan Keller, and Conner Motter will join them as the top defenders.

“Isaac and Connor will combine their size and strength to outmatch their opponents while Evan Kellar will use his incredible speed and skill on the ball to control the defense and team from the back,” coach Jeansonne said.

Jeansonne says there are a number of players on his squad who could develop their game to the point they could compete collegiately in the near future.

“We have several seniors who have the ability to play at the next level and Omar Touray is most likely the one who will look for an opportunity,” coach Jeansonne said. “He’s very skilled on the ball and has a high soccer acumen.

“The majority of our next level players will most likely be in our junior class with Chase Jeansonne, Evan Keller, and Brayden Heitmeyer. All aspire to play at the next level and have been in contact with schools over the past few years.”

Coach Jeansonne has other underclassmen ready to contribute to the Yellow Jackets this season.

“We have two sophomores playing varsity and both will battle for starting positions,” coach Jeansonne said. “Brayden Sniadanko will earn plenty of time as an outside midfielder as well as an outside defender. He’s very strong and fast for a sophomore who can score goals while shutting nearly anyone down one versus one on defense.

“Alex Bowe is the other sophomore who will see significant time as an outside midfielder or forward. He’s very fast and has an amazing left foot.”