Only losing three seniors to graduation, the Bradford High boys
soccer team returns 11 letterwinners to the field to compete for a
District 9 title in 2006.

The Owls return poised and ready for another shot at the D-9
crown after suffering defeat at the hands of the Clearfield Bisons
in last season’s championship game.

Head coach Wes Lohrman said the Owls’ practice sessions have
been going “pretty well” and that they are looking to improve on
last year’s 12-5-1 benchmark.

“Obviously, when you have 11 returning letterwinners, you have a
pretty good foundation to start off with,” the coach stated. “We’re
looking to our four seniors to provide a good amount of leadership.
They have a lot of creativity with the ball. We also have a lot of
speed.

“Our main goal is to improve our record,” he continued. “With
everybody back, focused and on the same page, we are all committed
to the same goal.”

The play of senior goalkeeper Micah Ridley (letterman) will be
one of the Owls’ keys to success in the upcoming season.

“Micah provides senior leadership in goal and knows the position
very well,” he said. “He is part of the reason we focus on
defense.

“Last season, he made great saves, but he faced too many shots
on goal..”

Lohrman said the Owls dedicated much of their offseason work to
building a stronger team defense.

“We’ve dedicated most of our offseason and practice sessions to
strong defense,” he noted.

The Owls also polished their skills with a recent scrimmage
against the Warren Dragons.

“Everything we’ve been working on, the guys took it out and
applied it on the field,” he explained.

Bradford will also look to veteran seniors Nate Tingley
(letterman) and Steve Butler (letterman) as well as junior Adam
Feura (letterman), for leadership. Butler is the reigning D-9 Most
Valuable Player.

“We will be looking to these guys to lead our younger players on
the field,” Lohrman noted. “In order to get back to the D-9
championship game, we will need these younger guys to step up and
become playmakers.”

Rounding out this year’s Owls roster are Micah Irwin
(letterman), Ben Daggett, Ceegan Danielson (letterman), Josh
Lamberson, Mark Willard (letterman), Nick Rhinehardt, Trevor
Fiebelkorn, Andy Thomson, Brett Butler, Kevin Cannon, Matt Anderson
(letterman), Matt Bundy (letterman), Patrick Morrisroe (letterman),
Shawn Disney (letterman), Stephen Tingley, Tyree Bennett, Alex
Borland, Brett Murphy, Cody Nuzzo, Richard Obermeyer, Spencer
Mallette, Tanner Danielson and Tynan Shannon.

“We are looking this year for Shawn Disney, Mark Willard, and
Ceegan Danielson to contribute and to help with the consistency of
our defensive unit,” Lohrman said. “Matt Anderson and Stephen
Tingley, along with freshman Cody Nuzzo are going to be looked to
as positive additions to our midfield unit.”