43
Fitch’s Kilpatrick off to 4-0-0 start
By RYAN BUCk
The first season for a new coach in any sport is supposed to have its bumps in the road.
Differences in personalities, a new system and losses are commonplace. That’s not been the case for Ken Kilpatrick, first year coach of the Austintown Fitch boys’ soccer program.
Kilpatrick’s ascension has been a rather smooth one. The Falcons are 4-0-0 overall with two conference wins to begin the 2012 season.
The Falcons squad is deep and experienced, boasting seven seniors and 13 juniors in the program. It’s been a big help.
“We’ve set lofty expectations,” Kilpatrick said. “We’re an older crew. With 20 upperclassmen you expect to do well. The group that I’m coaching now has been together since they were 8 years old. Their success started a long time ago.”
Kilpatrick has taught at Fitch for 17 years now. In that time, he’s coached cross country, track, and basketball. Having coached his children in soccer for a number of years, he sees similarities.
“It is kind of a mix between the conditioning that cross country does and the X’s and O’s that basketball has,” he said. “Soccer’s unique, but it does draw from both of those sports. I’ve coached youth soccer through the years and just being around kids that play year round makes it really easy.”
Through four games, the Falcons have surrendered only two goals, thanks to a solid back line.
“The most important thing is our defense and we spend a lot of time on defense. A lot of our summer work was to get the defense to work well as a unit. They’ve done well. I think we’ll be in every game with our defense,” Kilpatrick said.
Their 2-0 win at Howland in week two has been their most impressive to date. It was their first victory there in 11 years.
Juniors Ben Conley and Nate Bowlen lead the Falcons in scoring and put pressure on defenses with their speed.
Kilpatrick is quick to define his role in the program. He brought in accomplished coach Brian Stiles from Howland to assist him.
“He’s a great assistant to have. He played in college and he coached varsity soccer for 14 years,” he said. “He runs the practices when it comes to X’s and O’s and I handle the administrative stuff.”
The Falcons are hoping to earn the All-American Conference title in their second year in the league. Howland edged them out in 2011 by a half-game. They’re just outside the top 10 in the Division I state coaches’ poll.
DIVISION II DRIBBLES
In Division II, Cardinal Mooney and Lakeview are once again at the top of the Youngstown District.
The Cardinals are battling injuries and one of the strongest schedules in the state. Lou Cali’s team tied perennial state power Columbus St. Francis DeSales and took care of Marlington, 3-0, on Sept. 11 at home.
Meanwhile, Lakeview has amassed a combined 54- goal differential en route to a 6-0-0 record. The Bulldogs, under coach Nate Mailach, downed Labrae on the road, 7-0, Thursday night.
Lakeview junior forward Colton Ainsley leads all area scorers with 19 goals.
Last season, Lakeview ended Mooney’s decade of dominance in the Youngstown Division II district tournament.