Led by Drew Lobley, North Hagerstown boys soccer is off to its best start in 24 years

North Hagerstown senior soccer star Drew Lobley said he can't make up for lost time.

Nothing he can do will bring back his junior season, which he missed due to a torn ACL in his right knee .

"I definitely have a different drive this year after having to sit on the bench and watch all of last year," Lobley said after scoring two goals in North's 2-1 win over Thomas Johnson on Wednesday night. "I don't think it's making up for it, but there's definitely extra motivation. I know this is my final year, and you can't take a year for granted."

He and the Hubs are making the most of the 2024 season . At 6-0-1, they're off to the program's best start since 2000, when North won its first 12 games.

"It's nice being back out there with the boys, especially with the way that we're playing," Lobley said. "It's been a lot of fun."

North has outscored its opponents 26-4 this year, led by Lobley, who has 13 goals and nine assists.

"It's been good, and it's just a testament to the team," Lobley said. "Guys have been finding me, I'm finding them, and we've been working together really well."

Hubs focused on character

Last year, the Hubs went 11-4 and lost to Oakdale in the Class 3A West Region I semifinals, with their all-state midfielder sidelined for all of it.

"We might never know what could have happened last year," North coach Uriel Galvan said. "But we're going to make it happen this year."

How special is Lobley?

"He's everything," Galvan said. "He's the program. And he's a better person than he is a player. The character that he shows, it trickles down in the team. We work on character. We don't work on skill set. Skill set is what we have already. There's nothing a lot better we can get. But character-wise, we go at it. It's all about resiliency, responsibility and taking accountability for everything we do. It's all about character."

2024: Washington County high school fall sports central

'Everybody has bought in'

Of course, there's more to the Hubs than just Lobley. The team has received contributions from all over the lineup.

Bryson Rohrer has five goals and three assists, Hector Diaz has scored three goals, Jayden Gray has two goals, Owen Bennett and Felipe Albuquerque each have a goal and an assist, Alfred Besong has a goal, Cooper Byard and Sean Donley have two assists apiece, Eli Brown has added an assist, and goalie Darius Geaman has made 22 saves and posted four shutouts.

"There's a different feel this year, and we're just kind of riding on that," Lobley said. "We can't let that stop.

"We have a really strong senior group. We're a close team. I've played with these guys since I was little. We all want it. Everybody has bought in. We're really trying to harp on the younger guys: 'You have two more years, but we don't. We want you guys to play for us and give your all. We can be as good as we want.'"

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Led by Drew Lobley, North Hagerstown boys soccer is off to its best start in 24 years