Blue Devils ready to go on attack to pursue another WB6 crown and postseason success

QUINCY — The loss of an all-state goal scorer could hinder or help the Quincy High School boys soccer team.

It all depends on perspective.

The way the Blue Devils view things, the graduation of midfielder Carter Venvertloh opens things up. Now playing at Quincy University, Venvertloh finished last season with 32 goals and tied the program’s single-game scoring record with five goals.

The opportunities he had to score still exist, although they may be spread more evenly among the Blue Devils attackers.

“Last year, our team revolved around Carter,” senior midfielder Evan Sohn said. “This year, we have other dudes who can score and need to score. Now it’s like, ‘Who is going to step up and score?’ I feel like our seniors are going to step up.”

QHS coach Ron Bridal expects that, too.

“Those 30 goals are out there though,” Bridal said. “And I’m happy to see those shared by many. … Those goals are still there, and it will be important for those kids to step up and get theirs.”

Senior forwards Josh Stupavsky and Andrew Brown, juniors Logan Epping and Adrian Sommers, and sophomore Trace Routh all figure into that mix.

“We spend a lot of time on attacking, and it’s one thing that is going to make or break us this year,” Bridal said. “We’ve focused on system of play and finding those opportunities, and those opportunities are being created.”

It’s the job of Sohn and the other midfielders to facilitate that.

“We’re working on how to move the ball through the middle, play it to those forwards and let them make those runs,” Sohn said. “The connection has been good.”

That’s no surprise to Bridal.

“The camaraderie between the boys is really something special this year, and I think that’s going to carry over onto the field,” Bridal said. “What we’ve seen them do throughout the summer and the preseason is a lot of stuff we’ve been happy with. I think this group of kids are going to go out and do really well on the field.”

Defensively, the Blue Devils return a contingent of seniors who understand the game.

Lucas Shepherd is the returning starter in goal, while Nolan Dede, Asher Otten and Biruk Rosen each have a wealth of experience in the defensive backfield. It’s their job to give the offense time to develop and score without playing from behind.

“The concerns we had originally I don’t think we have at this point because we’ve been really pleased with the way our midfielders and forwards have attacked,” Bridal said.

It gives hope to seeing this squad do more than win a conference title.

“When we start to look at just settling for a Western Big 6 trophy, that’s not good enough,” Bridal said. “Going down and playing in the regional we do is a challenge, but at the same time, it’s a challenge we have to accept and we have to accomplish.”

Winning a fourth straight WB6 title is important to the seniors, they want bigger and better things, too.

“A regional championship would be something very special for this program,” Sohn said.