Beaver Local High School Beavers boys soccer preview 2026
· Yahoo Sports
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) – After a stellar campaign that saw the Beavers march all the way to the district final before dropping a razor-thin 1-0 heartbreaker to River View, the Beaver Local boys’ soccer team enters the 2026 season with an explosive attack and a clear path to postseason success.
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Last fall, the Beavers proved to be an elite, assignment-sound squad, earning 10 of their 11 victories via shutouts.
While graduation took a heavy toll on that championship-caliber defense — including All-Ohio centerback Brayden Hall, All-District first-teamer Brayden Price, All-District second-teamer Talon Strickland, and All-County standouts Chris Warrick and Austin Holmes — Beaver Local remains a dangerous threat in the region due to an offense that returns completely intact.
Coach Joe Zirillo sees immense potential in the squad’s current composition, fueled by a perfect blend of high-scoring veterans and eager underclassmen.
“We will be a young team overall but have some key starters and players returning,” coach Zirillo said. “The freshman and sophomore groups have shown promise through the offseason and will look to contribute early. I believe we are shaping up to have another successful season.”
Unlike many transitioning teams, the Beavers boast a lethal front line capable of changing a game in a single possession.
Senior forward and All-District first-teamer Kaden Mays returns to spearhead the attack alongside sophomore standout Brandon Smith, a first-team All-County forward as a freshman.
Pulling the strings in the midfield are senior CAM (Central attacking midfielder) Evan Ours and junior CAM Logan Roberts, an All-County selection. Defensively, senior goalie Cole Long returns to anchor the net, protected by veteran senior centerback Landon Wheatley.
That intact scoring punch gives the Beavers a massive competitive advantage as they navigate the early weeks of the schedule.
“We return most of our offensive firepower coming into the 2026 season,” Zirillo highlighted. “The chemistry built last season will give us the boost to hang around in games and outscore any opponent.”
For Beaver Local, the blueprint to playing meaningful soccer late into October relies entirely on how fast the newly configured defensive unit gels. With tactical adjustments underway, Zirillo expects his young players to adapt quickly to the physical demands of varsity soccer.
“We will have new names across the backline and in key midfield positions,” Zirillo explained. “To play meaningful soccer by season’s end, we will need to build chemistry along that backline and have the new and young faces learn the speed of play and match the toughness of high school soccer. Defense wins championships, so correcting mental errors early in the season will set us up to have postseason success.”
While the Beavers may fly under the radar initially compared to previous years, the internal expectation remains firmly fixed on a deep tournament run.
“We may not be a frontrunner for a district title this year, as years previous, but I am absolutely seeing us make a run in the playoffs and still competing for that title,” Zirillo said.
Fans can catch their first look at the high-powered Beavers on Tuesday, August 18, when they host Cambridge in the season opener.
Beaver Local Boys Soccer Preview
Fast Facts
Head Coach: Joe Zirillo
2025 Record: 11-6-2
Postseason Finish: Lost to River View in District Final
League: OVAC
2025 Team Statistics
Goals for: 59
Goals against: 18
2026 Schedule
Aug. 18 – at Cambridge
Aug. 25 – at Harrison Central
Aug. 27 – Union Local
Aug. 29 – at Brooke
Sept. 1 – St. Clairsville
Sept. 3 – at Indian Creek
Sept. 8 – East Liverpool
Sept. 10 – Steubenville
Sept. 15 – Weir
Sept. 17 – at United
Sept. 22 – at OVAC Semifinal
Sept. 26 – at OVAC Final
Sept. 28 – Girard
Oct. 6 – Salem
Oct. 8 – at Carrollton
Oct. 10 – at Oak Glen
Oct. 12 – South Range
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