The North Adams boys soccer team saw their 2020 season come to an end on Oct. 29 in Waverly as they suffered a 7-0 loss to state-ranked Wheelersburg. (Photo by Jacob Smith/ Portsmouth Daily Times)

By Mark Carpenter

It was another successful season for Coach Ike Wooten and his North Adams Green Devils boys soccer team that unfortunately came to an end on Oct. 29 in the Division III district championship game at Waverly High School. On that evening, the Green Devils matched up with the then unbeaten and state-ranked Wheelersburg Pirates and things didn’t go as well as the North Adams squad would have liked.
Behind a hat trick from their all-time leading scorer Aaron Jolly, the Pirates were never really challenged, racing to a 5-0 halftime lead that eventually turned into a 7-0 district championship triumph.
“It was sad that our season ended the way it did, but all good things seem to do that,” said Coach Wooten. “It was another great season for us, finishing 13-3-3, and winning another sectional title. The season went pretty much as it should though we went through three goal keepers and guys playing a lot of minutes because our numbers were down, but they all played hard and worked hard. We have 10 guys returning with a few new ones coming up so we should be in good shape next season.”

The Devils will lose to graduation a solid and talented group of seniors, led by the school’s all-time leading goal scorer in Jayden Hesler, who this season racked up 31 goals and 19 assists. North Adams also loses second-leading scorer Seth Vogel, who tallied 16 goals and 13 assists in 2020. Senior fullback Andrew Brand added eight goals and six assists, with the athletic Hunter Hoop scoring four goals and dishing out seven assists. The Devils will also bid farewell to Carter Crawford (one goal, two assists), Jentry Crawford (80 saves, 4 shutouts), and Colton Hesler (two goals).
What a great group of guys that made it enjoyable to coach,” said Coach Wooten. “There was never a dull moment and I never questioned their commitment. This was a team of sacrifice, either they sacrificed their early years to later become part of the lineup or they sacrificed their own personal achievements so others could be successful. They were what a team is, all for one and one for all.”
The Devils have also picked up some postseason recognition, according to Coach Wooten.
• Jayden Hesler- All-State, First Team All District, All-SHAC, Offensive Player of the Year
• Andrew Brand- First Team All-District, All-SHAC, Defensive Player of the Year, Team MVP
• Seth Vogel- First Team All-District, All-SHAC
• Hunter Hoop- Second Team All-District, All-SHAC
• Lane Wagner- Second Team All-District
• Carter Crawford- District Honorable Mention, All-SHAC
• Garrett Bunn- District Honorable Mention