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Lions’ transition game: Altoona boys soccer welcomes promotion of Travis Young from assistant to top dog

High school boys soccer

By Michael Boytim 6 min read

Last season, Altoona's head boys soccer coach Dave McCarter knew he was in his last year with the program before going over to be an assistant for the girls team, and gave assistant coach Travis Young a chance to get acquainted with some of the duties he would be assuming as the head coach.

In his first season in charge, Young is doing the same in the early part of the season for his players that he expects to make a leap as the season continues.

"This is a season of learning, especially early for us," Young said. "We have a lot of new guys on the varsity level. They are guys who have been around the program for years but haven't had that varsity experience. We have to get them up to speed with the game and also rely on some of our upperclassmen like Colin Etters and Jace Black who have been around for several years and who have taken on a leadership role."

Only three of Altoona's starters Wednesday against Central Dauphin East were seniors -- Black, Etters and Galal Ismail -- and several players that saw the field were sophomores and freshmen.

The Mountain Lions showed a little of that inexperience, allowing an equalizing goal less than a minute after they took the lead and a go-ahead goal with just over 10 minutes to play, but Etters came through with a game-tying goal with just 4:18 to play in regulation in an eventual 2-2 tie at Mansion Park.

"Colin is one of the kids who has been around the program the last four years," Young said. "He's played just about every position except goalkeeper for us. This year, with his speed and internal motor and willingness to go after balls late in games even when he's tired, he's going to find goals like that occasionally."

In some situations when a coaching change happens during a player's senior year, there can be resistance. That hasn't been the case for Altoona's seniors.

"Coach Young has done a phenomenal job with his new head coaching role," Black said. "He's doing the right things for us. We're coming into practice every day with a purpose. I think we've got to smooth some edges out this season, but I think in the long run we'll be good. We'll hit our midseason stride and be good from there."

McCarter won more than 100 games after taking over for Dave Alexander in 2016 but decided to follow his daughter, Layla, to the Altoona varsity girls program as an assistant for her freshman year.

"We had a solid succession plan," Young said. "Dave and I had been coaching for many years. I have been on staff for 17 years, and we were together as a head coach and an assistant coach the last eight. With his kids moving into junior high and his daughter moving into high school soccer, he was very upfront and honest about his intentions. We had most of last year to prepare the coaching staff and the team and help me learn some of the administrative stuff behind the scenes."

Prior to Wednesday's draw with Central Dauphin East, Altoona went 1-1 in a tournament at DuBois as it settles in with a new lineup after last year's 16-3 season.

Altoona subbed frequently and used two keepers -- sophomore Ryder Krause and freshman Quin Sipes.

"Early in the season, we're OK with some of these hard games as long as we learn lessons from them," Young said. "Later in the season, that will serve us better when we're pushing for a district championship."

After a scoreless first half, Bilal Eltayeb got Altoona on the scoreboard off a feed from Black with 26:50 remaining in regulation, but Djovany Michel took advantage of a turnover just in front of the Altoona goal to tie the game 53 seconds later.

Justin Rai put the Panthers ahead with 10:18 to play before Etters tied the game late.

"The big word today is disappointing," Black said. "I think we could have done a lot better. There were a lot of opportunities we missed. That's just stuff we have to smooth out during the season."

Black had a chance to win the game in the second overtime when he got a one-on-one opportunity against Central Dauphin East keeper Leo Fure, who had stopped a similar chance late in regulation, but his shot went over the net.

"Jace is an amazing player," Central Dauphin East coach Ryan Maloney said. "We were focused on him right from the start. He generates the offense. They want to get him the ball in the middle and spray the ball out or play through. He's very crafty with the ball. Much respect to him. His game is at an all-time level. We knew if we could stop him, we had a chance to win. He had a couple chances but didn't finish, luckily for us. He's an awesome player who will get some looks at the collegiate level, I'm sure. Overall, I think Altoona is a pretty good team, and with us tying them, I'm proud of our effort."

Black said Young was a good pick as the new coach because of his time as an assistant under McCarter to help keep the program consistent, and Young backed that up.

"I think we share a lot of similarities," Young said. "I wouldn't really focus on the differences. I think that's one of the great things about Altoona soccer. There's a consistent message from top to bottom. That's best for the kids, the parents and the school. I have been saying the same thing that Dave has been saying for years. When I came in as the head coach, it's the same message. The kids understand that."

SCORE BY HALVES

Central Dauphin East 0 2 0 0 — 2

Altoona 0 2 0 0 — 2

First Half: none.

Second Half: A--Eltayeb (Black), 26:50; CDE--Michel (unassisted), 25:57; CDE--Rai (Ulloa), 10:18; A--Etters (unassisted), 4:18.

Overtime: none.

Second overtime: none.

Records: Central Dauphin East (1-0-3); Altoona (1-1-1).

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