The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
A team with a target
After last year’s regional berth, Vermilion is preparing to be a team everyone wants to beat
Vermilion’s soccer team made history a year ago advancing to a Division II regional semifinals before ultimately losing to Celina.
Despite graduating a couple key seniors, the Sailors bring back a group that’s poised to make another deep playoff run.
But this time, things will be a bit different.
The Sailors went through last season as an underdog, and in 2017, there will be a target on their backs — something they’ll have to get used to.
“There’s definitely going to be teams that really want to beat us,” senior forward Zack Kelly said. “We did so well last year that everyone now wants to beat Vermilion. We can’t go into games thinking ‘Oh, we’re Vermilion and we’re going to win.’ This year is going to be a lot harder. Having a target doesn’t phase me as much.”
Of course, it’ll help having Kelly, who was the 2016 Morning Journal Player of the Year after scoring 35 goals and dishing 15 assists. Each season, he’s improved his all-around game, and he wants to take another step to becoming a complete player.
It’s a safe bet that no one in the local area will get man-marked as much as Kelly, and it’s something he’s already prepared for.
“When I graduate, I don’t want to be known as that kid who just had a bunch of goals,” Kelly said. “I want to be known as the kid who was always a team player. This year, I’m not even focused on scoring as many goals as last year. Obviously it’s still something I want to do. But I got the record and everything that I wanted. This year I’m just going to go through the game and do as
well as I can. I definitely want to end my last year with a bang. I still want 30 goals and 10 assists and we’ll see how well it goes.
“Getting man-marked doesn’t really scare me. As the soon as the season ended last year I already had in my mind the goals I wanted to do this year. And I’ve just worked and worked. I’m trying to perfect the game, so when I do go against teams who double me, I’ll be more prepared than last year.”
Along with Kelly, the Sailors’ offensive attack should be solid. Senior center-mid CJ Koller is back and sophomore center-mid Logan Penton should do damage. Newcomer forward Riley Baxter has Vermilion coach Kurt
Innes excited about his potential, and juniors Ryan Bodeker and Justin Stask should keep Vermilion’s offensive attack potent.
“We could be dangerous,” Innes said.
Vermilion junior goalkeeper Ryan Habermehl returns after making gamechanging saves during last season’s postseason run.
Style-wise, the Sailors have a lot of speed they can use to their advantage.
Innes acknowledges he isn’t sure how his team will respond as a favorite in 2017 — but he’s eager to find out.
“It’s the million dollar question,” he said. “It’s my biggest fear right now. Do our guys think we’ve already got a game won? Are our
boys ready to approach every game like a championship game? Because that’s what it’s going to be. Every team is going to want to beat you and knock off a district champ. I think we’re ready, but they have to buy in and understand that every day is a challenge.”
For Kelly, individual goals are one thing, but his eyes are on the main prize. If he can help guide Vermilion to a state berth, he knows this Sailors team will forever be etched in Vermilion lore.
“We want to win a state title and it’s not far from our reach,” he added. “It would be a dream because I don’t think any team from Vermilion has ever seen state at all.”