Bulldogs’ young guns want to stay on top in Berks I soccer

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

There’s no waiting until next year for the seniors on this Wilson boys soccer team. It doesn’t matter that five freshmen and sophomores are in the starting lineup. Or that many of them are undersized.

It’s still time to win. It’s always that time for the Bulldogs.

“It’s different,” goalkeeper Cooper Walters said. “Especially from last year. We had all these big boys. Now we have 4-foot-11 kids just walking on. We’re playing amazing, though.”

There have been some hiccups, for sure. That includes two losses by five goals each. Tuesday night brought the greatest success to date. A breakthrough victory against one of the most experienced teams in the league.

Jaden Webb scratched out a goal midway through the first half and Wilson held on to defeat Exeter 1-0 in Berks I play at Mack Stadium.

Wilson (2-0, 2-3) is the only team in the division to win its first two league games. The young guns are getting their chance to shine.

“The disadvantage this group had is the seniors in front of them were so good they didn’t really gain any minutes,” Wilson coach Moss Grande said. “We’re going to have mishaps because these guys didn’t really have roles before. They’re finding their way each game.”

The good news is Wilson’s three senior starters span much of the field. There’s Josh Zielinski in the midfield, Luca Marchio in the back and Walters in net.

Walters came through during one of the night’s defining moments when he stopped Callan Stuck on a point-blank shot about seven minutes after Webb put the Bulldogs in front.

“When a guy comes 1-on-1, I just try to get big,” Walters said. “I try to cut off the angles. I step out and spread my legs into a split just to take up as much space as I can.”

Neither team generated many chances in the second half until Exeter poured on some pressure in the final minutes.

Wilson defender Max Wartluft twice saved the ball off the goal line. The second time came after it deflected off the corner of the crossbar and bounced perilously in front.

Exeter (1-1, 1-5), which started nine seniors and was arguably the preseason favorite in Berks I, walked away disappointed. Three great looks and zero goals.

Wilson has won 13 consecutive league games dating back to 2019. Much of that success could be attributed to the stellar senior class that just departed.

“We want to break that habit of waiting for next year,” Grande said. “We don’t know what next year will bring. We try to instill that. I think tonight was a huge step in the right direction. It gives them the confidence they need.”

Sophomores Carson Peck and Manuel Cook are playing up top with Declan Moyer in the midfield. Freshmen Tommy McFadden and Jack Kersikoski are already starters.

The pieces of a great future are there. Wilson is focused on the present. Right now the Bulldogs are in first place.

“What I like about this season is we don’t have all those seasoned vets,” Grande said. “Each practice they’re gnawing. The next guy is challenging. I like where we’re heading.”