UC Clermont Men s Soccer Kicks off Season with New Field, Players

The UC Clermont College men’s soccer team welcomes a host of fresh faces to the roster this season, but it’s nothing that Head Coach Pete Ohmer is unfamiliar with.

“We basically have a brand new team, which you expect from time to time,” he said. Now in his third season, Ohmer is shepherding some considerable improvements to the program, especially in regard to the team’s game schedule. “We have a great schedule this year,” he said. “People are contacting me to come play, whereas the first years some people didn’t know we had a program.”

UC Clermont has been invited to two Division III tournaments: the Purple and Gold Classic at Defiance College, and the Kiwanis Classic at Wilmington College. Their home games are now played at West Clermont Middle School, marking the first season that the Cougars will have a regular home field advantage.

While Ohmer’s team may not have a plethora of experience, it does have talent. The team will be led by sophomore goalkeeper Jared Leyland (Colerain), a Northern Kentucky University transfer. “That’s a huge pickup for us,” Ohmer said. Ohmer will also be counting on freshman center-back Zach Boston (Bethel-Tate). Among the top returners are talented sophomore midfielders Scott and Randy Ervin (Amelia).

Ohmer said he’s pleased with the size of his team (more than 20 players) and the buy-in from his squad. “They are motivated to do what it takes to get to the next level,” he said. For Ohmer, that would mean picking up some victories over larger schools, having a winning season and potentially a USCAA tournament berth.

Ohmer is also hoping to develop more players who stay in the program longer. “Most stay one year and move on,” he said. “I want some guys who will stay on as upperclassmen and be leaders.”

The Cougars’ next home game at West Clermont Middle School will take place on Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. against Shaw University.

For more information about the UC Clermont men’s soccer program, visit

http://www.ucclermont.edu/athletics/MensSoccer.html

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