Slippery Rock boys won their region. Can new-look roster make a run in District 10 soccer playoffs?
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Max Kovacik works on a drill during the team's practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Wade Freehling reaches for the ball during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Wade Freehling reaches for the ball during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Max Kovacik, right, runs a drill during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rockboys soccer's Alex Cagle, center, works on a drill with teammates during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock Area High School's Max Kovacik practices soccer drills during the team's soccer practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (10/17/2024)
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Slippery Rock Area High School's Max Kovacik practices soccer drills during the team's soccer practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (10/17/2024)
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Wade Freehling works on a drill during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Garrett Arblaster, left, defends a teammate during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Garrett Arblaster defends a teammate during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Alex Cagle readies to kick the ball during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Wade Freehling, right, defends a teammate during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock boys soccer's Max Kovacik, left, and Wade Freehling walk through a drill during practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
A number of question marks stared down the Slippery Rock boys soccer team as it prepared for the 2024 season. One thing the Rockets knew was they were two-time defending District 10 region champions and prying the crown from their grasp proved to be too tall of a task for their foes.
With a 2-1 win in double overtime Oct. 14 against Sharon, the Rockets sealed the three-peat with a 9-1 record (12-6 overall).
“At the start of the season, we were wondering who was going to step up at several positions,” Slippery Rock coach Kyle Hopkins said. “The way the team came together is why we were able to win another region title.”
Slippery Rock will open postseason play with a Class 2A quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday against Harbor Creek at Franklin High School.
The Rockets graduated several standout players from last year’s 14-4 team, including Trent Davey and his 15 goals.
One current player who has taken his production to another level is senior Max Kovacik. He had a solid junior campaign with 11 goals, but enters the playoffs with a team-leading 25 markers.
The second-leading scorer is Wade Freehling, who has found the net five times, most recently in the win over Sharon. Zach Lasko leads the Rockets in assists with eight.
Kovacik made the move from midfielder to forward.
“I knew I had to step up this season, but didn’t know I’d lead the team in goals,” he said. “It’s not all me. My goals are the result of everybody else on the field doing their job.”
Anderson Franco, the team’s only defensive starter back from last year’s team, leads the back line, but the unit is now working in front of a new goalie. Josh Book, who earned District 10 All-Region honors last year, suffered a season-ending injury last week. His backup, Liam Smith is currently out as well, which leaves senior Dylan Freehling, normally a defender, in net.
“You can’t replace a goalie like Josh,” Hopkins said. “He read the ball well and could jump at just the right time to take it out of the air. It will be difficult without him, but we’ll do our best. We’re hoping to get Liam back soon.”
As for the offense, Kovacik is preparing to be a marked man in the postseason, but it’s something he is used to.
“Some teams have put two or three players on Max,” Hopkins said. “We can’t hide him anymore. We’ll lean on him as much as we can, but he could also serve as a decoy.”
Joining Franco on defense are starters Cody Freehling, Alex Cagle and Garrett Arblaster.
“Anderson is a leader back there for us, and those guys have really jelled during the season,” Hopkins said.
“At the start of the season, it took some time for us to figure out what our strengths and weaknesses were as a (defensive) unit,” Franco said. “I still give instructions to the other guys, but they’re getting to where they need to be without me telling them.”
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