You know you’re good when a seven-goal, 12-assist sophomore season is just considered scratching the surface.
Aaron McDaniel put up some nice numbers in his first full varsity season for Center Grove boys soccer; the dozen assists were actually the most on the team. But Trojans coach Jameson McLaughlin expects his talented midfielder, now an upperclassman, to be more assertive than he was last fall.
“We already had a talk,” McLaughlin said. “The position he plays, the opportunity he’s going to get, he’s got to put them in the back of the net. Fifteen goals and 10 assists is going to be my line for him; that’s where I want him to be.”
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That McDaniel was a little deferential at times last season is understandable — already quieter by nature, he was a sophomore on a team full of strong personalities.
But McLaughlin isn’t treating him like a newcomer anymore. The coach gathered a handful of his senior leaders for a discussion this preseason and had McDaniel join them, a sign that he wants the junior to take on a leadership role as well.
McDaniel seems ready to do so.
“I definitely need to be a vocal leader this year,” he said. “I just need to encourage everyone and stay positive with the team to help us get better.”
Though the graduated seniors accounted for 47 of Center Grove’s 60 goals in 2018, the Trojans are again expected to be very potent offensively, with seniors Cooper Livermore, Colin Parry and Nick Wilson the most likely candidates to help fill the void.
But it’s pretty clear that McLaughlin expects McDaniel to lead the way.
“I expect a lot from him,” the coach said, “because technically, he is so gifted. If he wanted to go play for (the U.S. Soccer Development Academy), he could go play for the DA right now. So to have a player like that is a blessing, and to be as humble as Aaron is, it’s even better.”
Center Grove’s last three seasons have ended at the hands of Perry Meridian — during the regional in 2016 and in the sectional the last two years. Last season’s setback — a stunning 1-0 loss on the Trojans’ home pitch — was particularly disappointing, but they’ve used that as fuel to improve in the offseason and McDaniel believes they’re ready to get back over the hump and make a deep tournament run.
“We just have to work together,” he said. “Last year we got down on each other when we made the wrong decision; we just have to encourage each other and help them know what to do instead.”
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Center Grove Trojans
Coach: Jameson McLaughlin
Last season: 15-3; lost to Perry Meridian in Class 3A sectional semifinal
Key returnees: Cooper Livermore, Colin Parry, Tesfa Seyoum, Carson Wilhelm, Josh Williams, Nick Wilson, Zane York and Carter Zuch, seniors; Aaron McDaniel, juniorÂ
Newcomers to watch: Sam Brunsman and Ian Roe, seniors; Ethan McGee, sophomore
Outlook: The Trojans are again teeming with depth and experience and figure to be one of the state’s top-ranked teams all season long. McDaniel is expected to take on a larger scoring role for what should be a dynamic offense, and the defense should again be stout in front of a talented new starting netminder Roe. Center Grove measures its success on how it fares in the postseason, though, and Perry Meridian has been its kryptonite in recent years. Will this season’s team break through?
Franklin Grizzly Cubs
Coach: Tony Harris
Last season: 10-7; lost to Perry Meridian in first round of Class 3A sectional
Key returnees: Owen Mahin and Yobany Lopez Perez, seniors; Colin Haveman and Nick Woods, juniors
Newcomers to watch: Jack Henderson and Aaron Richards, juniors; Griffin Atkison, Luke Cambridge and Drew Nemeth, freshmen
Outlook: The Grizzly Cubs will be breaking in a lot of new faces after losing 17 seniors from last year’s squad. Lopez Perez and Mahin will offer some continuity up front and in the back, but it’ll be up to some of the underclassmen, many of whom played large roles on the JV level a year ago, to fill much of the void. Franklin has finished in the top three of the Mid-State for nine years straight, winning the league five times in that span, and hopes to keep that streak alive. Harris says that "by the end of the year, we’ll figure it out, but it’s going to take time."
Greenwood Woodmen
Coach: Dan Weber
Last season: 4-12-1; lost to Roncalli in the first round of the Class 3A sectional
Key returnees: Alexis Amaya, Sullivan Cisco, Jaden Clites, Bryce Gilbert and Hudson Welliver, seniors; Josh Harris, sophomore
Newcomers to watch: Sam Mora and Konner Winn, sophomores
Outlook: Weber had concerns after losing 12 of his 25 players from last season, but an influx of talented transfers and freshmen has the coach optimistic about the future at Greenwood. There will be some holes to fill defensively, but if some of the newcomers can help shore up that back end, the Woodmen might be able to surprise some people. The goal is to increase the win total again to about six or seven, with an eye on bigger things in the years to come.
Greenwood Christian Cougars
Coach: Jason Noel
Last season: 14-4-1; lost to Seton Catholic in Class A regional semifinal
Key returnees: Josue Muir, Griffin Peters, Gabe Vessely and Luke Walters, seniors; Jon Amador, juniorÂ
Newcomers to watch: Noah Harris, senior; Sam Graves, freshman
Outlook: An assistant the past three seasons, Noel takes over a team that suffered some big graduation losses but also returns plenty of talent. Amador, who scored 15 goals last season, should spearhead the offense, while All-County goalkeeper Vessely is back for his fourth varsity season. Noel is confident that the Cougars can contend for a third straight sectional title and perhaps its first regional crown.
Whiteland Warriors
Coach: Justin VanHorn
Last season: 10-7; lost to Roncalli in Class 3A sectional semifinal
Key returnees: Keegan Law, Trevor Pike and Dalton Spangler, seniors; Chris Dawalt and Tristan Thomas, juniors; Nolan Ferguson, sophomore
Newcomers to watch: Yahir Lugardo and David Mathis, freshmen
Outlook: The Warriors lost some key players to graduation, but VanHorn isn’t expecting any dropoff; he believes his team will be able to challenge Perry Meridian and Plainfield for a Mid-State Conference title. Spangler, a two-time captain, will provide leadership, and Whiteland adds some promising young talent in Lugardo and Mathis, both of whom could help shoulder the scoring load with Pike.
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