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By Shawn Bates
The Putnam High School Clippers finished off their season with a 3-1 loss to Plainfield on Monday. That ended the soccer team’s first season back in the ECC conference. The Clippers record 1-15-1 tie does not reflect how this team performed. Out of the 17 game season the Clippers lost 5 games by 1 goal and 3 by 2 goals. Solid play by Hunter Touchette, Kobie Bates, and Johnny Espinosa lead the front line. New comer and freshman Karson Bates held his own in the spots where coach Miller put him.
Kyle Haynes and Aiden Bernier head down the defense while Tyion Harris and Kobie Bates split time in the goal. Cole Davgian and Justin St. Martin also stepped up playing multiple spots.
At the end of the ECC tournament four Clippers were awarded all ECC all-star for their play by the coaches in Div. IV: Forwards: Hunter Touchette; Mid-fielder: Kobie Bates; Defenders: Kyle Haynes; Scholar athlete: Kyle Haynes; and Sportsmanship: Michael Ionkin.
Out of the 20-man roster Miller will be losing a core of 10 seniors in total which includes ECC all-stars Touchette and Bates and goal keeper Tyion Harris. The bright spot was the return of couple players from a year off: Espinosa and key returnees all-star defender Kyle Haynes and forward Jorge Portuges. Those players plus the versatile freshman Karson Bates should bring leadership to a young team.
St. Martin, Rodrigo Jimenez and Emre Karadeniz should see an increase in play next year. Also with one year under his belt Michael Ionkin will add some speed on the field if he can add in some footwork with the ball over the summer he will be able to break away from any defender.
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