The Conestoga Christian Middle School boys soccer team enjoyed a fine season this year under first-year head coch Joshua Lapp.
Conestoga Christian capped the season by winning the championship at the Conestoga Christian Invitational Tournament. The team completed the season with an overall record of 7-6-4.
The other teams in the one-day tourney field included Linville High, Covenant Christian and Dayspring Christian.
In the semifinal round, Conestoga Christian defeated Linville High, 8-0; and Dayspring Christian edged Coventant Christian, 1-0.
In the consolation round, Coventry Christian beat Linville High, 4-1.
In the championship game, Conestoga Christiana nd Dayspring Christian played to a scoreless tie during regulation time. Conestoga Chrstian then won the game and tourney titl
le by virtue to a 3-2 edge in penalty kicks.
Zach Fulton and Conrad Yoder were chosen as all-tournament players. Fulton plays a defensive midfield position while Yoder is an attack midfielder.
“They were my two most outstanding players throughout the year and during the postseason tournament,” said Lapp. “They definitely stood out and they played great.
We were strong up the middle with those two players. They did a good job of controlling the middle. Both players are very unselfish players. They are good passsers. They set everyone up.”
The roster included 16 players. They all received playing time during different parts of the season, especially since Conestoga Christian had to deal with some injuries along the wy.
The team roster included Matt Gorham, Adam Hahn, Conrad Yoder, Dylan Wiest, JD Hahn, Jayden Schreier, Cyrus Stratton, Mark Combs, Zach Johnson, Spencer Colon, Shawn March, Garrett Watkins, Riley Watkins, Zach Fulton, Evan Macfarlane and Alex Italiano.
“We had a very small bench,” said Lapp. “The nice part of it was it was easy to get everybody playing time. It was good that everyone got playing time.”
Lapp began coaching last year as an assistant middle school boys basketball coach and moved into the head coaching position for boys soccer for the 2015-16 campaign.
“The middle school soccer coach went overseas,” sauid Lapp. “I had a lot of these sam ekids on my team with basketball last year so there was familiarity when I got the soccer job.”
