After two weeks of practice, the Bridgeport High School boys’ soccer team will put its skills to the test. The Tribe travels to Brooke High School Saturday for a trio of scrimmages, playing 40-minute matches against Wheeling Park, Linsly and Oak Glen.

 

Coach Danny Hamrick said he has a talented team for the 2018 season.

 

“I think we’re actually good end to end,” he said. “A lot of years, we have one position that is outstanding, but have to cover for someone in another area. I really don’t see a weakness. I don’t think we’re probably not as good on top as we were last year, but we haven’t dropped off enough to make it a liability and defensively, we’re just as good.”

 

Hamrick plans to start out running a 3-5-2 formation with junior, Phillip Malenich in the goalkeeper position. Defensively, senior Hayden Hamilton will start as center back and juniors Isaiah Williams and Mac Madden, outside backs. In the midfielder positions will be Seniors Evan Ogden, Tristan Nolte and Sam Stauffer. Stauffer returns to the team after being out last season recovering from ACL surgery. Outside midfielders, Hamrick said, are junior Clay Feist and sophomore Kyle McCarthy and playing on top will be senior Broc Oliverio and sophomore Bradley Taylor.

 

Also likely to see varsity time are junior Camden Berry, sophomores Nathan Jackson and Tyler Norman and a handful of freshmen who show true promise.

 

“We have six outstanding freshmen who I think will all get minutes. I don’t know if any will start, but eventually they should all get good, quality minutes,” Hamrick said.

 

Those freshmen are Brody Nolte, Thomas Ayoob, A.J. Dinaldo, Broc Amos, Daniel Igualada and Luke Malenich. The younger brother of Phillip, Malenich also plays goalkeeper and in fact, the brothers are the Indians’ only two goalies.

 

“We will have a JV squad this year, so Luke will be pulling double duty,” Hamrick said.

 

Following Saturday’s scrimmage opportunities, the Tribe will play a pre-season match with Buckhannon-Upshur Tuesday, Aug. 14, then begin the season Saturday, Aug. 18 in Parkersburg. From then, it will be one challenging match after another.

 

“Our schedule is probably the toughest Class AA schedule in the state, but that’s OK. It lets me see where we are,” Hamrick said.

With several days of work behind them, the Indians are nearing readiness.

 

“The first week back was very disappointing. They came back out of shape and we had to work really hard. We did lots of conditioning and very little soccer work, but this past week we’ve been able to do some drills and see where we are. Physically, we are much improved and I think we’re getting there.”

 

Hamrick's assitant coaches are Joey Reese and Keith Dumas. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are Mac Madden, Broc Oliverio and Evan Ogden; Hayden Hamilton and Madden; and Sam Stauffer. Images are by Ben Queen Photography. See more photos HERE.