Beavercreek soccer
Season Boys Girls
2011 19-0-1 16-1-1
2010 13-3-3 13-4-3
2009 15-3-4 17-1-2
2008 20-2-1 12-4-4
2007 18-1-2 13-3-2
BEAVERCREEK — Jacob Butman started the summer by calling the four other returning Beavercreek High School boys varsity soccer players for workouts. With limited experience, they agreed to organize their own conditioning by mid-June.
They started with Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, taking advantage of open time at the Ankeney Soccer Complex. They created a Facebook page and a phone list to draw more participants.
By July, about 45 future Beavers were running, conditioning and scrimmaging during the open-field sessions, as the varsity team worked to replace 15 graduated seniors.
“A lot of people thought this would be a rebuilding season,” said Butman, a senior and third-year varsity player. “With what we had, our mentality is completely different from last season.”
The work and the atmosphere have paid off for the Beavercreek boys and girls soccer teams. Entering Division I district finals Thursday (girls) and Saturday (boys), the two teams have a combined 35-1-2 record and are ranked Nos. 2 (boys) and 3 (girls) in the state.
Members of both teams said camaraderie built over years in the Beavercreek youth systems mixed with depth have led to the impressive records.
“We have 20 players on our varsity, and all 20 have contributed,” said Steve Popp, the 13th-year Beavercreek girls soccer coach. “I think our group this year really plays well as a team together.”
Both teams have plenty of precedent. In the past five seasons, the Beavers have a combined record of 156-22-23 with nine appearances in the district final or better.
The boys team has advanced to the regional level in three of the previous four seasons, including a state final appearance in 2008 and state semifinal run in 2009. The girls team has lost in the district final in each of the previous three seasons and last advanced to the regional level in 2006.
The teams were both ranked in the final state poll last in 2009, when the boys were No. 9 and the girls were No. 6.
The boys team won its first 11 games before tying Olentangy Orange 1-1. Since, the Beavers have won seven straight by a combined score of 41-5. Senior Matt Carnes leads the Greater Western Ohio Conference with 58 points on 24 goals and 10 assists, and Tuesday’s 3-2 tournament win in overtime against Lebanon continued the Beavers’ 19-game unbeaten streak since they dropped a district final 2-0 to St. Xavier last year.
“There are very few teams I’m aware of that can go as deep as we can,” said 23rd-year Beavercreek boys coach John Guiliano. “We have a lot of players who have sacrificed personal goals for the good of the team, which has made for a great atmosphere.”
The girls team hasn’t allowed a goal since Sept. 17, its only loss of the season to Westerville North (1-0), a string of 10 straight shutouts. The Beavers also defeated Centerville this season for the first time since 2006, breaking a 0-4-2 string against the Elks. Centerville topped Beavercreek in the previous two district finals.
Third-year varsity player Micaela Powers, a junior, has scored 16 goals this season to increase her career total to 62. The defense, meanwhile, has allowed five goals all season as the boys and girls teams have outscored opponents a combined 139-15.
The teams have shared in each others’ success, even more so because there are numerous couples made up of players from the two teams. There was a significant homecoming dance group made up of the Beavers boys and girls soccer players.
“This year, we’re more like one big group,” said Kethryn Mattingly, a Beavers junior sweeper and captain whose boyfriend, Paul Ramos, is a member of the boys team. “That makes things way more fun.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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