New coaches and new expectations highlight the area’s high school boys’ soccer scene this year.

Former Bowling Green assistant Craig Widener takes over a BGHS program rich with history after advancing to the Final Four in 2001 and 2003. Warren East made strides last season and will now be led by former assistant Jay Gravette.

Both programs plus Warren Central will all be gunning for Greenwood. The Gators had a near-dream season last year by advancing to the state championship game for the first time in the program’s history.

Now Greenwood has the challenge of trying to duplicate last year.

“Sometimes it’s easier to get to a final and the difficulty is repeating and doing as well,” Greenwood coach Sean Helliwell said. “When you get to a final game, you become more known. Every game for us is going to be a tough game and we’ll have to play our best in every match.”

Greenwood

If Greenwood (17-3-5 last year) is going to make its third trip to the Final Four and compete for a state championship, the Gators will need to replace some scoring punch.

Tim Shaw was a constant highlight reel, scoring 21 goals and adding 11 assists. But Shaw has taken his game to the next level at Coastal Carolina University. Shaw was one of seven seniors from last year’s squad.

“After last year, it makes the players have aspirations to do that well again,” Helliwell said. “I think right now we’ve got some ways to go in order to get to that level. I’d like to think by the end of the season, as a team we could get to that point.”

Senior midfielder Alex Holmes can provide plenty of scoring for the Gators. Holmes has been a starter at GHS since his freshman year and he’ll join Collin Steiner at midfield.

Jordan Gass will anchor a defense that will be playing a new goalkeeper this year.

Forwards Blake Pruett and Ryan Maine will play up front.

Greenwood has also strengthened its schedule this season and Helliwell hopes the competition will help the Gators in the postseason.

“I’m not concerned about our record as much as I am how we develop throughout the season,” Helliwell said. “Hopefully by the end of the season we’ll have that experience under our belts and playing the top teams will make us better.”

Bowling Green

Widener was an assistant when the Purples went to the Final Four in 2003, but not many Purples have state tournament experience.

Bowling Green (13-5-2) returns only five seniors this season and returns six starters.

“If you’re going to want to write anything, you could put that ‘we’re young’ about 50 times,” Widener joked. “That’s the big word. It’s going to be a bit of a rebuilding year for us, I think.”

That doesn’t mean tradition-rich Bowling Green is without talent. Jack-of-all trades senior Brian Campbell highlights the Purples’ roster this year, but where Widener puts Campbell depends on the situation.

“He’ll probably be moving around wherever we need him,” Widener said. “He’s such a good player. He can fill a lot of holes anywhere, but he’ll be playing defense to start out.”

Senior Chad Marshall will also anchor the Purples’ defense and Casey Tinius will play at defender or midfield.

Junior forward Matt Simpson will lead Bowling Green’s offensive attack up front.

“We’re a lot deeper in the midfield and forward than on defense on the bench, but most of the returning experience is going to be on defense, thank goodness,” Widener said. “Greenwood is the odds-on favorite once again. They have to be the favorite and we’re trying to do our best to hang with them.”

Warren Central

Warren Central was dangerous last season, winning 13 games. All but one win then had to be forfeited because the Dragons used an ineligible player.

The end result didn’t prevent Central from being pleased with the improvements it made last year.

“It was very satisfying,” Central coach Janko Emedi said. “But we’ll be very young this year. It’s going to have to go kind of trial-and-error this year.”

Central has only three seniors and graduated seven seniors last year.

The Dragons will be solid in goal with William Rodriguez in net.

“The kid is really amazing,” Emedi said.

Central’s Damir Gubic leads the Dragons’ offensive attack. And like Greenwood, Emedi has tried to beef up the Dragons’ regular-season schedule.

“It doesn’t do you any good sometimes when you play a bad opponent,” Emedi said. “Your kids don’t grow and you get a false sense of security about yourselves.”

Warren East

The Raiders (7-5-3) will have youth on their side, not only on the field but on the bench as well.

The 21-year-old Gravette will begin his junior year at Western Kentucky.

“I was at a coach’s clinic sitting at a table filling paper work and somebody asked me if I was doing my homework,” Gravette joked. “It’s been pretty interesting. I get a lot of weird looks sometimes, but everybody has been real supportive of me.”

Gravette does have experience. He spent last year as an East assistant after starting four years at Graves County High School.

East has six starters returning, led by midfielder Marcus Mellencamp. Defenseman Albert Bush and forward Keegan Williams give the Raiders some experience heading into the year.

“Right now I’m putting my best players back on defense, just because we aren’t deep,” Gravette said. “I’m trying to figure out the best way we can win and I think that’s our best chance right now. It’s a work in progress, but it’s coming along.”