Berean Christian School’s boys varsity soccer team is having another stellar regular season. According to head coach Luke Schartner, he is pleasantly surprised by his team’s overall performance. He was a bit concerned with how the team would find success after so much turnover from last year.
“Last year’s team, which reached the regional semifinals, graduated 11 seniors, which meant we lost a number of experienced and talented players,” said Schartner, now in his 19th season leading the program.
As Schartner looks at his 18-player roster, he likes what he has right now, and he’s optimistic about the immediate future.
“We have a really good, young and talented roster of players. We start a number of sophomores and juniors,” he said. “It helps our varsity squad by having a successful junior varsity and middle school program, which helps bring in players who are excited for the culture of our varsity squad.”
As this year’s team resumes its regular season schedule in early January, Schartner’s squad has a strong 9-2-1 record. The young Bulldogs are currently riding a five-game winning streak.
“We are winning with a strong defense. We didn’t give up a goal in our nine victories,” Schartner said. “And our one tie was a scoreless 0-0 game. Our defense is solid at the back, and our defenders are focused on not giving up goals.”
Schartner has not one, but two talented goalkeepers — sophomore Adrian Page and senior Travis Sarkisian.
“Our goalkeepers split playing time, as one starts the game and the other one plays the second half,” Schartner explained.
Other key players include Silas Tiscione, Ryan Chamberlin, and brotherly duo Nicolas and Matthew Leon.
“Silas, our only senior that has started every game, is a strong center back. Ryan is super sharp in the midfield; he has so much talent,” Schartner said. “Nicholas and his brother Matthew work very well together. They are both super smooth, and it’s fun to watch them be creative during games.”
Schartner looks forward to the rest of the season.
“Our soccer program continues to be blessed with so many talented players who are also amazing kids,” he said. “I’m so thankful that I get to be a part helping these guys create memories while shaping their character.”
While Schartner and his players are always focused on getting ready for the next game, everyone is aware of what awaits this team in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A postseason, which gets underway with the district tournament in late January. Schartner likes his team’s chances of a fourth consecutive district tournament title, to be followed by another deep postseason run.
In other Berean soccer news, for the eighth consecutive year, Schartner organized and played in the school’s annual soccer alumni game held on the Berean campus. The game was played on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 4. In all, 33 past soccer players participated in the game. The oldest player was Joey Salabarria, who graduated in 2006, which was Schartner’s first year as the head coach of the program. In this year’s game, Team Black defeated Team Gray, 6-4. Both Noah Torres (Class of 2019) and Hunter Stanford (Class of 2018) scored a pair of goals for Team Black.
