Boys soccer: Season preview

This wasn’t how Ely Detty’s story was supposed to go.

The Center Grove boys soccer star wasn’t expecting to see his sophomore season come to an end with a 3-2 sectional semifinal loss to Southport — especially since the Cardinals were missing their starting goalie.

“After it, me plus four other kids might have looked at each other and said, ‘We’re done with this,’ because it’s just frustrating,” Detty said. “That was not a game we should have lost.”

That frustration was enough for the 6-foot, 165-pound forward to strongly consider other options, one of which was MLS Next — a youth league run by Major League Soccer that has replaced the U.S. Soccer Development Academy at the upper levels of the American soccer food chain.

“I play on the team below the Indy Fire,” Detty said. “It was kind of more like me trying my hardest to get up to that level. I think I can get up to that level, but I have not gotten the opportunity to make that final step up.”

Although Detty wasn’t able to earn his way onto the Indiana Fire Academy team, he did still have the option of not playing high school soccer. Detty considered it, but quickly decided he would return for his junior season.

“I have really big goals for this high school season, so I decided to try and achieve those goals,” Detty said. “I want to be Mr. Soccer.”

Detty’s capabilities put that goal well within reach.

“He is definitely a special kid,” Center Grove coach Jameson McLaughlin said. “His movement off the ball is very good, but his movement with the ball, you’d have to know what you’re looking at to see it. It’s a very subtle drop on the shoulder and a subtle look one way go the other. He just has an ability to get a defender guessing and frozen, and then go by. And it’s a special gift that not a lot of people have. But he does really well with the ball on his feet. That’s what makes him special in my opinion.”

Detty scored 17 goals and added five assists in his sophomore season, but he won’t be the only talented member of this Center Grove squad.

“I think everyone on this team will have an impact in every game we play; defense through forwards I think we are the best it’s been in years,” Detty said. I’m playing forward with Landen (Montfort) this year, and I think we can be really dangerous together. Caden (York) will be a powerhouse in the midfield which is something Center Grove has been missing for a little.”

The talent of this team has McLaughlin saying in practice that the Trojans could be a top-five team in the state.

“I always have the same expectations; I want to win the state every year. And … it’s always a possibility,” McLaughlin said. “But it’s going to be up to myself and the boys to do what we need to do to get there. I’m really, really excited about our team. We had 80 kids come out this year, which is the most we’ve had since 2016. I think top to bottom, varsity, JV, developmental, it’s the deepest we’ve had in a long time. I’m pretty excited. I think the sky’s the limit for them. I’m going to set the bar as high as it can go.”

That’s exactly what Detty came back for.

SCOUTING THE COUNTY

Center Grove Trojans

Coach: Jameson McLaughlin

Last season: 7-5-5, lost to Southport in Class 3A sectional semifinal

Key returnees: Preston Fisher, Wesley McCrea, Landen Montfort, Luke Silva and Caden York, seniors; Ely Detty and Nalen Whitney, juniors; Keaton Barnhiser, sophomore

Top newcomer: Neikos Whitney, freshman

Outlook: With Detty, Montfort and Fisher all returning, the Trojans shouldn’t have much trouble putting the ball in the net. If the defense, which should be led by veterans such as McCrea and Silva, can pull together and be reasonably stout, this team should be a force to be reckoned with. It’ll certainly be battle-tested — Center Grove’s stacked regular-season schedule includes all four of last year’s 3A semifinalists. McLaughlin always sets a high bar, and he’s hopeful that this year’s Trojans can get through the sectional and put themselves in position for a deeper run.

Franklin Grizzly Cubs

Coach: Tony Harris

Last season: 10-5-1, lost to Southport in Class 3A sectional opener

Key returnees: Griffin Atkison, Luke Cambridge, Patrick Fancher, Tyler Martz, Eli Nix, Brady Schmidt and Riley Shaff, seniors; Ethan Elsner, Riley Flora, Dylan Harris, Cole Hufford, Zach Newton, Brayden Petro and JD Sever, juniors; Matt Payne, sophomore

Top newcomers: Camden Atkison and Jace Patterson, sophomores

Outlook: With nearly everyone back from a 10-win squad, Harris is optimistic about the Grizzly Cubs’ chances to make some noise in the Mid-State Conference and in a newly realigned sectional. Atkison should again serve as the fulcrum of the Franklin attack, while Cambridge and Schmidt anchor the defense. A large and experienced junior class could provide as many as seven or eight starters. Shaff and Ott will battle for the starting goalkeeper job.

Greenwood Woodmen

Coach: Dan Priscu

Last season: 6-10-1, lost to Perry Meridian in Class 3A sectional opener

Key returnees: Ethan Baugh, Jake Callow, Brennan Kane, Anthony Linville, Nick Mullins, Oscar Piang, Nick Ruzvidzo, Ty Williamson and Edan Young, seniors; Gavin Armstrong, Ashton Chirinos and Fabian Martin, juniors; Sam Thompson, sophomore

Outlook: The Woodmen made significant progress in Priscu’s first season and look to build on that with a very senior-dominated squad. Last season’s team helped shift the culture somewhat, winning as many matches as it had in the previous three seasons combined. Greenwood lost three one-goal matches last year; flipping those into victories could mean a winning season for the first time in more than a decade.

Greenwood Christian Cougars

Coach: Micah Adkins-Estes

Last season: 3-12, lost to Oldenburg Academy in Class A sectional semifinal

Key returnees: Carson Dillard, David McLaughlin and Parker Satre, seniors; Colton Flint and Mason Wright, juniors; Caden Camden and Hayden Johnson, sophomores

Top newcomers: Joel Flint and Patrick Taber, seniors; Xander Honeycutt, junior; Caden Afterkirk, Bo Campbell and Luke McNichols, freshmen

Outlook: The Cougars took their lumps last fall with a very young team and a new coach, but the vibe is a little different this time around with a combination of returning experience and some talented transfers and freshmen. Finding some offensive punch will be key — none of the holdovers scored more than two goals in 2021 — but the overall level of play should be higher, and GCA should see some improvements in the win column if it can get everyone to play cohesively.

Whiteland Warriors

Coach: Justin VanHorn

Last season: 7-9, lost to Roncalli in Class 3A sectional opener

Key returnees: Braden Hall, David Mathis and Elliott Spangler, seniors; JD Lompo, junior; Ethan Boone and Austin Cooper, sophomores

Top newcomers: Tristan Roca D’Huyteza, junior; Makail Christman, sophomore

Outlook: The Warriors graduated star goalkeeper Nolan Ferguson but bring back nine starters and perhaps more depth of talent than they’ve ever had. Spangler and Mathis should again serve as anchors on defense and in the midfield, respectively, while Hall and Lompo were the team’s top two scorers. Boone steps in as the netminder, one of several sophomores who should make an impact. Whiteland should be in the mix atop the Mid-State along with Perry Meridian, Plainfield and Franklin this season.