Looking ahead at what to expect this fall in local boys soccer
By Bill Collmer, Hornell Sun Senior Sports Writer, pictured is Avoca-Prattsburgh Senior Carter Button
HORNELL-With August coming to an end, it means summer is almost over which is always hard to believe. However, the one bright spot with Fall quickly approaching is High School sports are back. Soccer and other Fall sports practices began on August 24.
We’re very lucky to live in the Southern Tier as we always seem to have contenders in boys’ soccer from Steuben, Allegany and Livingston County competing at high level and competing for sectional championships.
Let’s take a look at what we can expect the next few months in boys’ soccer.
Several teams return a lot of talent from last season on the Soccer Pitch, in boys Soccer both Avoca-Prattsburgh and Fillmore return a wealth of talent from their respective Sectional Championship teams, A-P won Class D2 while Fillmore captured D1, defeated Avoca-Prattsburgh in the State Qualifier and shared the Class D State Championship with Hamilton after a 4-4 tie in double overtime. Section Five will only have one Class D this season so Fillmore and A-P will compete in the same bracket come sectional time.
A-P brings back Senior Carter Button who was named Steuben County Division two player of the year last season. Button is not alone as several other All-stars will join him. Seniors Chase Mummey, Evan Obrochta and Austin Swift were all named to the Class D2 All-Tournament team last season. Senior Goalie Zach Heale joined Button as a Steuben County First Team All-Star last season while Swift, Senior J.J Crowder and Junior Devin Stamets were named Second Team Steuben County All-Stars.
Entering his senior year Button has 23 career goals and 38 assists.
“We’ll start eight seniors and I think we’ll be better than we were last season and we won a sectional championship last season,” Avoca-Prattsburgh Coach John Stamets said.
A-P will add a couple of newcomers this season, Junior Josh Carlton and Sophomore Ariun Mikel McIntyre, McIntyre has been playing with the RNY MLS Academy Club team for the past five years and will be playing with them in ECLN after the high school season. The Elite Clubs National League is among the highest and most competitive tiers of youth soccer in the United States. It sits just below or parallel to MLS Next, serving as an elite club-based national platform.
“McIntyre reminds me a lot of Carter Button when he was a sophomore,” Stamets said.
While Fillmore finished 21-1-1 last season and lost leading Scorer and All-State Midfielder Isaiah Sisson to graduation, the cupboard is far from bare as the Eagles return Junior Brayden Walton (16 Goals, 12 Assists) Senior Issac Wilcox (6 Goals), Junior Levi Russell (5 Goals, 8 Assists) Junior Judah Russell (4 Goals, 6 Assists) Along with All-Star Goalie Junior Jared Boon who only allowed 15 goals last season and had 115 saves.
The two teams will find out where they stand against each other early in the season as A-P will play Fillmore in their third game of the season, they’ll also scrimmage AAA Corning at Corning on August 31.
“Fillmore will be good, they always are. I know they lost their leading scorer, but they don’t rebuild in Fillmore, they reload,” Stamets said.
Bath-Haverling went 12-4-1 last season and should be very competitive again this season. They will play in LCAA D2 this season after being in LCAA D1 for many, many years.
Veteran Coach Matt Hill returns to the Sidelines with the Rams and feels they’re ready for another solid campaign.
“We hope to be competitive in every game we play; we should have an experienced team this year with most of our guys back from last season,” Bath Coach Matt Hill said.
“We Should have many guys that contribute this fall, we have three incoming juniors that will have at least 2-3 years of varsity experience under their belts, Seth Rounds, Connor Binkowski and Josh Wheeler,” Hill added.
Hill said the summer sessions were full of several J.V and Varsity players participating, Bath will start their season with two home games prior to school beginning, they will play Wellsville on Friday September 4, at 6:30 and Section VI Powerhouse East Aurora on Saturday September 5 at noon. Bath and Hornell have battled East Aurora several times in Far Western Regional contests over the years. East Aurora has won eighteen Sectional Championships in boys Soccer.
Hornell is the king of class B until someone knocks them off, the Red Raiders lost All-State players Demayne Dixon and Wyatt Evingham, Evingham graduated as one of Hornell’s all-time leaders in Assists. They also lost Seniors Marco Picco and the Rasphei twins. However, the biggest loss is the retirement of legendary Coach Jim Tobin. Tobin Coached in Hornell for over 40 years, winning 381 games and eight sectional titles. Taking over for Tobin is longtime assistant Coach and Hornell Youth Soccer director Caden Dunham.
In 2023 Section Five honored Dunham with the Section Five Assistant Coach of the year award. Dunham’s year-round dedication to Hornell soccer helped build the program to the dynasty they are today. He coached the J.V team for the past five years alongside Zach Haynes. He has run the Youth Soccer program in Hornell since 2022 and has coached Fall youth soccer since 2016. He’s also responsible for bringing back the Hornell indoor youth travel teams in 2023 which held 50 plus boys in grades third through sixth this past indoor season. Dunham has hosted three summer youth Soccer camps that is open to all surrounding School districts. The 2026 camp had 85 players from ages 5-12.
With it being Hornell and coming off three straight Sectional Titles along with taking over for a Hall of Fame Caliber Coach in Jim Tobin the expectations are going to be high.
“The expectations are certainly high going into the season with tradition and success that Coach Tobin has built. But I wouldn’t say there is any pressure, we are focused on taking the season one game at a time and improving as a team every time we step out on the field. There’s no hiding the fact that Coach Tobin retiring left big shoes to fill but one thing Coach did so well was make sure all of his assistants were a part of every decision and gave insight on what it takes to be a high-class coach. He trusted each of us and valued our input which helped us prepare to carry on the traditions of Hornell Soccer,” Hornell Coach Caden Dunham said.
“After playing for Coach Tobin for four years and coaching nine years alongside him the plan is to keep things running the same. We have a younger team this year but most of the boys have been around the program for years and have trained alongside the varsity teams in the past during off-seasons. So, they understand what level of commitment and effort is expected day in and day out,” Dunham added
Dunham said the boys have been hungry and are more than ready to step up and fill in those roles vacated by the seniors. They took about two weeks off after their heartbreaking loss to Lafayette International last year in the Far Western Regional and got right back to work in the gym. Hornell plays in an incredibly tough division that gets them ready for Sectional play so anything can happen.
Senior Cody Cardamone and Sophomore Anatole Colson are both returning starters that will control the midfield, Junior Trenton Vogel and Senior Aquiles Souza will be goal scoring threats, Sophomore Logan Weitzel will be the lone returning starter that will anchor the defense alongside Senior Karabello Thai. Sophomore Ethan Dieter will take over in goal.
“I’ve been fortunate to learn from one of the best soccer coaches ever for so many years. He has taught me that success isn’t solely defined by wins or loses but by the impact you make on the lives of these players. He taught me that we are all coaching and playing for the name on the front of the jerseys not the back, that mistakes are a great tool for learning not punishment, and that soccer is all about family and love for the game,” Dunham said.
“Being named the 2023 Section Five Assistant Coach of the year was a true honor. I’ve always said I’m extremely lucky to be doing something I genuinely love. It’s always been about helping these young athletes grow on and off the field. None of it would be possible without the support of Athletic Director (John) Mr. Cardamone and the community,” Dunham added
“Finally, I would like to thank Coach Tobin for everything he has done for me as a player and a coach. He has helped shape me into the man and coach I am today and his impact on this program and our entire community is impossible to measure,” Dunham concluded.
Hornell will play their first seven games this season at home in the Maple City starting Wednesday August 26 versus Norther Potter Pennsylvania.
High School Soccer is back and there are many reasons to be excited about the teams playing in the Southern Tier.
