Boys Soccer: Juniors help chart course for Upper Arlington Golden Bears

Upper Arlington boys soccer coach Kevin Donovan long expected that the class of 2024 would have a large say in this season’s fortunes, but his current juniors still managed to surprise him.

“We really knew about the top-end guys, but there have been a lot of guys in that next tier who have developed more than we’ve expected,” Donovan said.

With juniors Josh Ali, Max Hevezi and Evan Peratopoulos helping to lead a lockdown defense and a rotating group of five new starting forwards — four of whom are juniors — acclimating themselves to the offense, the Golden Bears were 3-1-2 amid a rigorous schedule before playing Hunting Valley University School on Sept. 10.

Juniors Griffin D’Onofrio and Emmett O’Brien have been full-time starters at left wing and offensive midfielder, respectively, next to senior striker Eliot Harned. Juniors Cooper Baltimore and Bobby Ntwari have rotated on the right side.

“You have guys who played (in top-level club organizations) Ohio Premier or ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) like Josh, Griffin and Emmett are, but then other guys like Max and Evan play in other clubs and have come out and been a force,” Donovan said. “(Junior midfielder) Chris Kourlas was on junior varsity last year and has really developed. Cooper Baltimore was a j.v. starter last year and has been a spot starter now.

“We didn’t know if that would happen this year with that group, but they’re growing so much.”

The class might have been bound to be leaders, given that there are more than 20 in the program, according to Donovan, and UA graduated 14 players from its third consecutive Division I district runner-up team.

Among the losses were 13 goals from forward Theo Constantinides and 10 assists from Ethan Howe, as well as a three-year starter Evan D’Herete on defense.

Second-team all-state midfielder Miles Bonham, a senior who had 12 goals in 2021, did not return from a preseason injury until Aug. 30.

D’Onofrio had three goals through six games, including the only tally in a 1-all tie against defending regional champion Dublin Jerome on Aug. 25. UA outscored its first four opponents 6-2; the other goal it allowed in that stretch came late against mostly backup players in a 3-1 win Aug. 30 at Westerville Central.

The Bears lost 3-2 to Beavercreek on Sept. 3.

Hevezi, who did not see any varsity time last year, said the defense’s speed has been a major asset. Senior Jack Lowe rounds out the group in front of senior goalie Zach Harrison.

“I’m not sure I anticipated that, but it definitely helps. I try not to rely on my speed too much. I know I won’t be faster than everybody,” Hevezi said. “I still need to improve on the ball, but my defense is my strong suit. I need to get better at possession.”

A rigorous schedule began in the preseason with scrimmages against defending Division III state champion Grandview Heights and another Division I district runner-up in St. Charles. Jerome lost in a state semifinal, Thomas Worthington (scoreless tie Aug. 20) was a district runner-up and University School was a Division I regional semifinalist.

UA began OCC-Central Division play Sept. 13 at Hilliard Bradley.

“(Our early results) show we have heart and we’re going to be a team that can go far,” O’Brien said. “Jerome, winning a regional last year and us tying them, we could have won but we’re glad to have gotten a few wins out of those games. All of that is going to make us better.”

dpurpura@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekDave

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Boys Soccer: Juniors help chart course for Upper Arlington