News Archive
Full Schedule Awaits Boys Soccer In Season’s First Week
SETTING THE SCENE: Fans of the Milford High School boys soccer team won’t have long to wait to see the team in action as the Eagles kick off 2017 with four matches in a seven-day span beginning with the home opener against Little Miami on Friday night (Aug. 18). Last season was a roller coaster as Milford started 0-5 before ripping off six consecutive victories. The tournament got off on a high note with an upset of Moeller before finishing the campaign 9-7-2 overall and 2-3-2 in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. Longtime head coach Brian Croston returns at the helm of an Eagles’ squad that returns seven players that scored at least one point last fall.
THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Friday, Aug. 18 vs. Little Miami, 7:00 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 7-6-5, 1-2-2 SWOC (NR Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Player: Senior Brody Kiper (15 G, 4 A, 34 pts.)
- Last Meeting: 2013; Milford 5, Little Miami 0
- Series History: Milford leads 3-0-0
- Tuesday, Aug. 22 vs. Ross, 7:00 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 8-9-0, 3-2-0 SWOC (RV Division II area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Player: Senior Reece Gordley (6 G, 10 A, 22 pts.)
- Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 4, Ross 1
- Series History: Milford leads 4-0-0
- Thursday, Aug. 24 vs. Lakota East, 7:00 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 10-5-3, 4-4-1 GMC (7th Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Player: Junior Jak Birdsong (3 G, 8 A, 14 pts.)
- Last Meeting: 2016; Lakota East 5, Milford 0
- Series History: Lakota East leads 10-6-3
- Saturday, Aug. 26 vs. Hamilton, 12:00 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 9-6-4, 4-3-2 GMC (NR Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Player: Senior Trace Sword (6 G, 4 A, 16 pts.)
- Last Meeting: 2016; Hamilton 3, Milford 2 & Hamilton 3, Milford 2
- Series History: Milford leads 24-2-3
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: The 2017 Eagles should be anchored by a strong defense that features a pair of returning All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference selections along the back line. Senior Blake Holtman was tabbed to the league’s first team in 2016 for his work on defense, while he also added one goal and one assist. Kyle Boehm, just a sophomore this fall, was chosen to the All-ECC second team for his defense and like Holtman, got into the offensive flow with one goal and two assists. The Eagles also return a pair of solid scorers in seniors Cameron Burnett and Stephen Hobson. Burnett found the back of the goal four times last year and tacked on two assists, while Hobson tallied four goals and six assists. Other returning scorers to the Eagle line-up include junior Cole Cambrom and sophomores Josh Henke and Joey Round. The goalkeeper job will go to either senior Ben Gerding or junior Zach Mash.
POLL WATCH: Milford earned a pair of points in the first Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll of 2017. Five teams picked up votes for the top spot with Mason edging Eastern Cincinnati Conference member Anderson for the top spot on the strength of an 8-7 advantage in first place votes. Teams three through five all earned a single No. 1 nod, with Sycamore, St. Xavier and Lakota West rounding out the top-five. Joining Milford in the others receiving votes section from the ECC are Turpin, Walnut Hills, Loveland and Kings. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
