Rams aim to continue recent success
By Dan Palm
For the MV Independent
The Ringgold boys soccer team has had tremendous success under veteran head coach Steve Persaud, winning two consecutive section championships and three overall in his four years as coach.
The Rams made it to the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals a season ago with a 10-2 section and 13-7 overall record. However, an attempt at a three-peat this fall will have to be done with a mostly new lineup as only three starters return.
Gone to graduation are the likes of Kobe Norfleet, Eli Shoedel, Joey Garrett, Jeff Soles and Travis Yahnite among others. Sophomore Mason Fabean is also gone after transferring to Greensburg Central Catholic, where he went to middle school.
Leading the way for the returning Rams will be seniors Brian Long, Frank Lowstetter and Jason Vaccaro. Long, a four-year starter, will anchor the defense with the other two manning the midfield.
“I expect Brian Long to be the best defender in the section, if not the entire WPIAL,” said Persaud. “How well we do will depend a lot on how he plays. Also, Frank Lowstetter will give defenses fits this year. And we had players that were hurt most of last year in Jake Gorman and Andrew Bottino. Those seniors are ready to step in and really become a factor for us.”
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