<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3VwMTY_0vAlYwM700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3VwMTY_0vAlYwM700" width="1392" height="1045" ><figcaption>Harvey’s Antonio Soto restarts a 2023 match at Gilmour. (Tim Phillis – for The News-Herald)</figcaption></figure>It’s not as if evident signs of growth haven’t been prevalent for the Harvey boys soccer side.Coming off their most consequential season, 16-4 with the first Division II regional appearance in boys soccer in school history, hammers that point home.Yet there it was Aug. 21, as Red Raiders coach Natalie Sisler glanced across the pitch amid expressing the pride in her new-look side rallying for a 2-1 home victory.On the opposite touchline was Bay, which had ventured crosstown for a Wednesday night nonconference match in August.That concept can be added to that signs-of-growth list, highlighted and bolded.Sisler was appreciative of legendary Rockets coach Bobby Dougherty being open to this scheduling, after the sides had played in a 2023 D-II regional semifinal won by Bay, 2-1.“Last year, we didn’t travel to Bay, but when I asked them to come, they were right away, ‘Yeah, we’ll come out to you,'” Sisler said. “So I feel like it’s shown a lot that a strong program like theirs is willing to come out and go up against us, because we’ll look good obviously for them either way.“I think that’s something that luckily our program has kind of developed into. Even the refs before the game mentioned that. They’re like, ‘I’m surprised you were able to get Bay to come out.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, us too.’ ”Her Harvey side had fallen behind approaching halftime before grabbing an equalizer through Christian Guerra, then the go-ahead strike nearing the hour mark from Arturo Rangel.The Red Raiders graduated key personnel throughout their starting 11, including D-II All-Ohio midfielder Byron Perez and dependable attackers Kevin Fonseca, Alexis Orozco and Mason Haffa among more. That quartet combined for 76 goals, or nearly 74% of the side’s finishing, in 2023.Dougherty lauded the work Sisler has done, while reminding his own side that, new-look or not, the hosts came in motivated.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Zb7HB_0vAlYwM700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Zb7HB_0vAlYwM700" width="1860" height="1288" ><figcaption>Harvey’s Christian Guerra heads a ball during a 2023 match at Gilmour. (Tim Phillis – for The News-Herald)</figcaption></figure>“For these guys, this is like a marquee win for them. Great,” Dougherty said. “They’ve established themselves.“Coming here, really tough environment to play in. They’re pissed. We beat them, 2-1, last year. They had every right to beat us. It was a great game. I’m like, ‘If you don’t think this is a big game, watch their reaction after the game.’ I go, ‘Guys, you know you’re the target. You came here. They beat you. They deserve to celebrate.'”Harvey's cause has also been buoyed by the arrival of Rangel.The sophomore midfielder was making his debut after spending his freshman year at St. Ignatius. His kit number, in fact, was still up in the air until just before the match. Rangel ended up sporting No. 10.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">⚽️ Harvey equalizer through Christian Guerra 35th min 1-1 match <a href="https://t.co/JskJIQ78Mp">pic.twitter.com/JskJIQ78Mp</a>— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) <a href="https://twitter.com/CLillstrungNH/status/1826403617215234313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>He had instant impact with a pacey ball to set up Guerra's goal and a bit of 1v1 brilliance on the match-winner. His arrival will help in a transitioning midfield that also includes program staples Guerra and Antonio Soto.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">⚽️ Harvey 2-1 59th min <a href="https://t.co/m0UL0JU9yq">pic.twitter.com/m0UL0JU9yq</a>— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) <a href="https://twitter.com/CLillstrungNH/status/1826412752111308936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>"He is going to bring a lot for us," Sisler said. "He obviously helps with us depth-wise. That was something we were struggling with vs. NDCL (on Aug. 16 in a 2-1 win) as far as bodies, numbers and fresh legs, things like that. But his presence in the center and his touch on the ball and his control on the ball, his midfield vision and obviously his passing ability — you saw his dime pass to Christian. It is going to help a ton."Last fall, as the Red Raiders made their D-II sweet-16 run, Rangel was an interested observer as Harvey bowed out to Bay. He could sense something special was brewing in his hometown district."I went to the semifinal when they lost against Bay, so it was also important to me," Rangel said. "I saw them lose, so I know they wanted revenge. So I'm glad I helped."Ignatius is good, but it's always better to be with your people and your friends and, like, the people that know you and are cheering for you. And it just feels better to win."That growth hasn't just been in scheduling or student-athletes choosing to come or stay "home." Rangel has also been impressed by how soccer has grown in Painesville City, as the Red Raiders seek to fortify as a program built to last."We have been growing massively," Rangel said. "A lot of players have been joining clubs when it's not high school season. So that's been helping. Because back in the day, players just played high school. That's helping. Also, we've been having good talent lately."And the coaches are doing a good job."Excitement that added another chapter Aug. 21, with Bay answering the challenge."We really have come a long way, I feel like," Sisler said. "And I feel like it's those little things that you don't really realize until you kind of take a step back and look at them and you're like, 'Now that I'm thinking about it, that is true.'"Same with like our squad and how big. This year, we've got like 55 guys at this point in time. My first or second year, we had like 25 guys. It's just those little things that have developed, and you don't even notice them until they're right in your face, I guess."</div></body>

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Harvey boys soccer: Bay visit yet another indicator of Red Raiders’ program growth

It’s not as if evident signs of growth haven’t been prevalent for the Harvey boys soccer side. Coming off their most consequential season, 16-4 with the first Division II regional appearance in boys soccer in school history, hammers that point home. Yet there it was Aug. 21, as...

Harvey boys soccer: Bay visit yet another indicator of Red Raiders’ program growth

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