The Lancaster High School Boys varsity soccer team faced a rocky season this year, with five total wins, and two ties, out of twenty games played. While the team began well, challenges led to a somewhat difficult middle and end season. Despite this the team improved over last year with several key wins.

Head Coach Graham Roan summed up the season. 

“We had a really tough schedule throughout the season, and that began to wear on us near the end of the year,” Roan explained. 

“We struggled with keeping up with the pace of the game against some opponents,” he said. 

However, even with these challenges, Roan and his team fought well on the field. 

“We had four solid wins against Dublin, Scioto, Columbus Briggs, Franklin Heights, and Whetstone. We had a really good showing against a state ranked Athens team, and we tied 5-5. I saw a lot of improvement from each guy in the program,” he said.

There were numerous standout athletes of the season. 

“Seniors Brody Ehorn, Camren Bennett, and Grant Hampson had great seasons this year. Brody led the team with five goals and nine assists and he was selected 2nd Team OCC. Camren Bennett had five goals this year and he was selected as the Lancaster Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Grant Hampson was the backbone to our defense this season and he was selected 1st Team OCC and Second Team All-District,” stated Roan.

Some senior players explained the challenges they faced this season. Senior Brody Ehorn, an accomplished player, said they had a relatively young and less experienced team. 

“The most challenging thing we faced this season was ourselves. We started four freshmen for a good majority of the season, with a couple of seniors playing soccer for the first time ever this year. With so many people that we had not only never played with at a varsity level before, but had never met before, it proved to be the biggest challenge we would face,” said Ehorn. 

However, that was not the only challenge the team would face this year. Senior Camren Bennet, Lancaster Boys Soccer player of the year, said inconsistency was a problem. 

“The most challenging thing that the team faced this season was consistency. We certainly had good moments as well as bad moments too. Trying to show up to practices and games day in and day out over the course of the season was our biggest struggle,” said Bennet. 

“We started out strong then hit a rough patch and struggled to find our footing from there. We were competitive in most of the games we played, we just couldn’t get the results,” explained senior Grant Hampson. 

While challenges can affect a team, arguably the most important aspect of any team and how it will function within itself is comradery, companionship, and the team’s dynamics with each other. 

“I will always remember the fun moments that I had with my teammates. Whether that was during practice, after practice, or even outside of soccer in general, I love the group of guys that we had this year and will not be forgetting them any time soon,” said Bennet. 

“I will always remember my team during my senior year. We had a young, motivated, and skilled group of guys that we didn’t always have in previous years, who made every practice, game, and meeting something to remember,” Ehorn said. 

The most important part for Hampson is the long-lasting relationships. 

“Just being able to play the sport with people I’ve not only known all of high school, but also most of my life. Brody and I have played soccer together for ten years and I’ve played with Cam for seven,” explained Hampson. 

An equally important aspect of any team is the coach. Roan himself is very accomplished. 

“I have been coaching high school soccer for seven years. I have been the Boys’ Head Coach for two years. I love to coach. Coaching is about helping your players improve their skills and confidence while also teaching them life lessons that they can take with them the rest of their lives.” 

Throughout the entire season, the team remained strong, with a relatively good win-to-loss ratio, and finished the season out strong. 

“I left knowing the program is headed in the right direction,” explained Hampson as his final note. 

“We hired Roan, our new coach my junior year and we didn’t have much to work with quality-wise last year. This year we had a lot more skill and that showed in our results. The freshman class also has a lot of quality and Coach Roan is getting involved in youth travel teams so our program has more quality players coming in as freshmen, like this year’s freshman class.”

“I’m excited to see what the future holds for this program as a whole. These coaches truly care for the program and want it to reach its full potential,” Bennet said, as his final thoughts. 

“I am very excited to see how the team does in the future. Coach Roan did a great job in the two years that he has been coaching at LHS, and I think he is going to make a huge difference in the grand scheme of LHS men’s soccer,” said Ehorn.