Batavia, Bethel-Tate county boys best in soccer

Batavia and Bethel-Tate have been the quickest off the starting line on the Clermont County high school varsity boys soccer scene.

The Bulldogs are 5-0-2 overall and 5-0 in the Southern Buckeye Conference National Division.

“We have a lot of talented players, good athletes with a lot of experience,” said Batavia head coach Bob Walker, adding, “This team has good camaraderie, too.”

Walkers’ twin sons, Matt and Will, seniors, are two of the best offensive players in Greater Cincinnati. Matt, a striker, has 16 goals and eight assists to his credit and Will, a center midfielder, has netted 10 goals and made nine assists. They are noted for “sharing the ball well. . . This is a good passing team.”

Other offensive standouts include junior outside midfielder Matt Smith who "has a lot of assists and gets the ball out of pressure," junior outside midfielder Chad Molles, and junior midfielder Jordan Richardson.

On the defensive side, standouts have been center defenders McClain Shepherd, a senior, and Timmy Knauer, a sophomore, left defender Tyler Osborne, a senior, and right defender Luke Bradburn, a junior. Senior Nolan O'Brien is the goalkeeper for a team that has allowed just three goals all season.

"This is a very good team. We have 15 or 16 guys fighting for 11 spots. We are one big, close team," coach Walker concluded.

Bethel-Tate

The Tigers defeated Purcell Marian's Cavaliers 3-0 in non-conference action.

In a Southern Buckeye Conference American Division game, the Red and Gray did away with Clermont Northeastern 6-1.

Western Brown went down before Bethel 9-0 in an American Division blow out of the Southern Buckeye Conference. Junior Logan Stephens scored four goals, junior Tyler Bullock three, and senior Billy Sipos two. Senior Kevin Poe stopped four shots on his goal to record the shut out.

Batavia

The Bulldogs fractured Felicity 9-0 in a Southern Buckeye Conference National Division tilt. Senior striker/midfielder Matt Walker netted three goals, senior midfielder Will Walker two and senior striker Dillinger, junior midfielder Zach Hargis, sophomore defender Timmy Knauer, and sophomore midfielder Ian Malott one apiece. Goalie Nolan O'Brien made one save to gain the shut out.

Georgetown's G-Men also suffered a severe shut out to the 'Dawgs 10-0 in the National Division of the Southern Buckeye Conference. Matt Walker made four goals, Will Walker three, Hargis two and junior striker/midfielder Matt Smith one. O'Brien made two saves.

The Green and White blanked Blanchester's Wildcats 5-0 in yet another National Division fray. Matt Walker tallied twice and Will Walker, senior midfielder Nathan Sisodia, and junior defender Luke Bradburn one each. O'Brien recorded three more saves.

Mariemont managed to tie Batavia 0-0. The Clermont countians' made six shots on the enemy's goal and the Warriors made two that were stopped by O'Brien who now has four whitewashes to his credit.

New Richmond

The Lions gored Goshen 7-0 in a game of the Southern Buckeye Conference American Division. Goals were netted by junior Zak Ritter four times and sophomore Tyler Loyd, senior Courtney McGrady, and senior Tanner Bock one each. Senior Casey Ware made five saves in the goal. The game was not completed due to lightning.

The Red and Black nipped Clermont Northeastern 1-0 in a Southern Buckeye Conference American Division duel. Senior Zach Gregory made the goal and Ware recorded the shut out.

New Richmond was knocked off by Norwood's Indians in non-league play.

Amelia

The Barons beat New Richmond 1-0 in non-league action. Freshman Cody Sprague scored the only goal of the game. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Williams made six saves to preserve the shut out.

Amelia and Glen Este fought to a scoreless tie. Williams made 10 saves for the Blue and White and Trevor Korfhagen made 15 for the Purple and White. This was a non-division game of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.

Lebanon's Warriors whipped Amelia 5-0 as the Barons took two shots at the foe's goal.

In another non-conference clash, Madeira's Mustangs beat the Barons 5-1. Junior Jason Drennan scored the point for Amelia.

Glen Este

The Trojans were trampled by Turpin's Spartans 9-0 in a Buckeye Division game of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference. Two shots were made by GE at the opposition's goal.

Walnut Hills's Eagles also took Glen Este 9-0 in a non-division game of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.

Goshen

The Warriors lost to the Fayetteville Rockets 7-2 in a non-conference encounter.

Little Miami's Panthers whitewashed the Red and Gray 10-0. Goshen made three scoring attempts.

Felicity

The Cardinals have been beaten by Ripley's Blue Jays and Blanchester 6-0. Freshman halfback/forward Aaron Housh and sophomore forward Clay Wehrum have dented the scoring column for the Red and White.

Milford

The Eagles were edged by Fairfield's Indians 2-1 in a non-conference confrontation.