IAC BOYS SOCCER: TIOGA COACH LOOKING FOR BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM TIGERS IN 2023 (2023-08-30)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Tioga boys soccer coach Adam Layman is looking for his Tigers to make a run at .500 or better in 2023.

The Tigers are coming off a 3-12-1 season, but Layman sees a lot of potential.

“I think this is a talented team,” he said. “We have a lot of talented guys, and through communication they’re working really well together.

“We’ve been focused on triangles, and these guys are keeping their shape, and moving real well.”

“I think we have a well-rounded team, and we don’t have any ‘big ego’ guys,” noted Layman. “These guys know what they can do, and they do it.”

“We’re really shooting for at least .500,” added Layman. “I’ve been running down our schedule … I really think it we play as well as what I’ve seen in the preseason so far, we have a shot at .500, and possibly better.”

A Tioga graduate, Layman played on the program’s first team to post a .500 season in 2015. In 2016, the Tigers had their first winning season. In 2017, the program folded, and was resurrected in 2021 with Layman at the helm.

Junior Jake Browne will man the keeper position, with sophomore Alan Seaburd at left defensive back, and freshman Caden Rapp at right defensive back.

Ethan Landmesser and Brandon Rafferty will play the center defensive back positions.

“We’re running a bit of a different line-up,” said Layman. “We’re running a 4-5-1, where we have two ‘six’ men, who are right above our defensive line. They’re really there to possess the center of the field.”

Brady Landmesser and Andrew Earley will play those spots.

Ryan Chamberlain will play left wing, while Wyatt Zorn will man the right wing, and senior Tyler Roe will play center-mid. Sophomore James Miller will play striker.

left-winger Ryan Chamberlain

Freshman Skyler Nelson and junior James Luther will come off the bench at right-back, and Robert Toomey is the secondary center-back.

Logan Grant could see time at several position.

“Logan is our utility guy,” said Layman. “He can play five or 10 minutes at several positions.”

Layman notes Roe, who scored a school-record 22 goals last season, is chasing history.

“(Roe) already obliterated the single-season scoring record,” said Layman. “He is now chasing the record for career goals, which is 39 by Ethan Argetsinger.

“He only needs five to break the record,” added Layman.

Roe is currently third all-time on the school scoring list, trailing Argetsinger’s 39, and his coach’s career total of 36. Roe is currently tied with Dan Layman, the coach’s brother, at 35 career goals.

Layman said a lack of depth up front is a cause of concern.

“I’m a little worried about our guys up front getting tired,” he said. “We have a lot of defensive subs, but for our offense, we don’t have much depth.”

The Tigers open the season Wednesday at home against Groton, then host Newark Valley Tuesday, before heading out on to the road for four consecutive games.

When they return home on Sept. 16, they will play their first game on the artificial turf at Haggerty Field.

“I think the kids are excited about the new turf field, and I know I’m super-excited about it,” said Layman.

“We’ve actually been playing a little bit wider, because that field is so much wider compared to our grass field,” he noted.

“We stepped out the distance for corner kicks on the new field … we have some work to do on the corner kicks,” laughed Layman.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga’s Tyler Roe. … VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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