Philomath High’s boys soccer program heads into the season trending upward after a strong finish to 2024, which included pushing eventual state champion Henley to a shootout in the first round of the 4A playoffs.
Although it’s common to believe that such a strong finish might create momentum heading into the following season, head coach Dave Ellis isn’t so sure if that would apply at the high school level. He’s been around long enough to know that the game can be cyclical from year to year.
Still, there’s plenty to be excited about for Warrior fans with the season opener only a few days away.
“This is definitely our year to be as good as we’re going to be,” Ellis said. “Not that we’ll go down a lot next year but we will lose a lot with this senior class.”
Warriors in their final go-round with PHS include the entire back four on defense — a group that Ellis calls “the foundation of the team.”
Overall, the eighth-year head coach sees a lot of potential.
“We’re physical, we defend well, we try to catch teams on the break,” Ellis said. “We like to counterattack a lot. We’re big, strong and fast this year.”
Offensively, Philomath brings a lot of firepower to the pitch.
“Our attacking players are phenomenal this year,” Ellis said. “It’s everybody we had last year and they’re just back.”
The Warriors did lose Silas Pittman to graduation but the program returns roughly two-thirds of its goal-scoring production from a year ago with sophomore Sammy Hernandez (nine goals in 2024), senior Zach Grapoli (3), junior Esias Sapp (3), junior Jacob Hernandez (2), sophomore Dreyton Nuño (1) and senior Caleb Babcock (1).
The Warriors finished 7-6-2 overall with four losses decided by two goals or less.
“I’m hopeful about this year,” Ellis said. “I don’t know if we’re good or really good — I’m hoping one of them. But I kind of need to see how everybody else is. Are North Marion and Stayton going to be amazing? But I’m hopeful that we’ll finish higher and win more games.”
Returning all-conference players from a year ago for the Warriors include Lukas Hernandez, Jake McGaughy, Babcock, Jacob Hernandez and Sammy Hernandez. Besides Nuño and Grapoli, senior Cameron McLennan is another key returnee.
“It’s been a different preseason,” Ellis said during last week’s soccer jamboree. “We focused on fitness and we focused on set pieces because largely, they know what they’re doing. I don’t need to teach them to play flat back four because they all learned last year.”
Flat back four is a common defensive setup that typically features two center backs and two outside backs across the field.
“What I’m hoping is we got things sorted out about halfway through the year and really started playing better and better and I’m hoping we can start there and push on from that point,” Ellis said.
In the jamboree, Ellis thought his team looked rusty and should have scored more goals but they ultimately defeated both opponents
McGaughy returns to play goalkeeper.
“Jake is phenomenal,” Ellis said. “He reads the game … and is probably one of the most athletic kids on the team. Good leader, amazing ability to punt the ball and hit free kicks. … He just has a cannon on his right leg.”
Asked about if any freshmen could have an immediate impact on varsity, Ellis mentioned Oliver DeMasi, Isaiah Hood and John Mecham.
“Those three I think will all see varsity minutes and by the end of the season, they could be big-time contributors,” Ellis said. “We’ll have to see how they develop but they have loads of potential.”
Ellis said the team has done a lot of fine-tuning work during preseason drills.
“Today (Aug. 29 in the jamboree), we stabbed a bunch and were kind of just poor with our individual defending and we need to work on pressing the opponents as a team.”
Team captains this season are McGaughy, Grapoli and Nuño.
Philomath has a home-heavy schedule in the early going with three of its first four and five of its first seven on the Warriors’ pitch. But during crunch time near the end of the season, three of the last four are on the road.
It all gets started Monday at 4 p.m. with a home appearance against Elmira, a 3A team that went 4-8-1 last season and is off to a 0-2-1 start this season.
