Early-season growth to pay dividends for Hempfield boys soccer

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 | 8:42 PM

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One might not think it is possible a four-win team that graduated 13 seniors could have the ability to come back the next year even better, but that could be the case for the Hempfield boys soccer team.

“It was a situation where they had the talent last year to finish high in the section, and they fell short because of the basic team fundamentals of soccer,” said Hempfield coach Jason Demko, who is in his second year as the Spartans’ coach. “We really played as individuals last year, and it really cost us in those one-point games.”

One-goal losses seemed to be a common theme last year. Hempfield (4-12-1, 1-10-1) suffered seven of them. If the Spartans could have won just half of those, they would have been in the thick of the Section 4-4A race for the final postseason spot. Instead, they placed last in the section. The Spartans last made the playoffs in 2014, with their last postseason win coming in 2007.

“Last year, they went from winning two games to wining four games and they doubled their record from the year before,” Demko said. “This year, we’re hoping to grow on that. It’s showing already this early in the season. They’re playing more as a team this year rather than as individuals like the past couple of years.”

Realizing his team’s struggles in one-goal games, Demko added former Saint Vincent player Christian Trueax to the coaching staff. Trueax, who has his national coaching license, will lead the junior varsity team and focus on coaching the goalkeepers.

“In years past, I would say that our goalkeepers would get the short end of the stick,” Demko said. “They didn’t get the dedicated training strictly for them.”

What was a weakness last season has the potential to turn into Hempfield’s strength this season as junior goalkeeper Austin Midlik will again take over between the poles for Hempfield.

Back on defense is senior Andrew Sierk, and Demko said seniors Matt McCaffrey and Joe Antonucci, along with freshman Garrett Brown, junior Conner Prola and sophomore Ben Kissell are battling for starting jobs.

“I have a lot of competitive players on the team right now that want a starting position,” Demko said.

There’s plenty of competition at midfield too, but one player has a starting spot locked up — junior Jake Ballantyne.

“(Ballantyne’s) going to be one of the players that is going to be talked about across the section this season,” Demko said. “His foot skills are off the charts. His speed, his power and just his presence on the field makes the entire team better, and the leadership is there.”

Demko got a gift this summer, as well. The package arrived from Slovokia in the form of senior foreign-exchange student David Mvra. Demko said Mvra has earned a starting spot alongside Ballantyne at midfield.

“We can definitely work with him,” Demko said. “Integrating him into our style of play will be the biggest thing, but putting (Mvra and Ballantyne) in the middle they are going to be a force to reckon with.”

The final two midfielder spots will come down to senior Greg Thomas, juniors Nate Bierhals and Prola, and freshman Max Mapes.

The Spartans also return last season’s scoring leader in junior Casey Leonard. He tallied nine of Hempfield’s 17 goals last season.

“He’s the ultimate utility player,” Demko said. “He’s that player that can go up top to score goals and go in the back and stop goals from being scored. He has the unique ability to hit those tough angle shots.”

Leonard will be joined up top by fellow junior Zack Vanek and senior Caleb Kaylor.

After the WPIAL realignment, Hempfield remains in Class 4A and will see familiar opponents Connellsville, Latrobe, Norwin, Plum and Penn-Trafford. The two new additions to Section 3 are Woodland Hills and Penn Hills.

“We can’t look at it as we’re going to win the section,” Demko said. “We look at it as we’re preparing to go to battle against this team today. If I had to make a prediction today, I’d say we’re in the top four (of the section). I believe with the talent that we have on our teams, we should be in that top four, or battling for fourth (place).”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Hempfield