Beaverton's 8-0-1 start to the boys soccer season has been so surprising, coach Jason Carney admits it even has caught him off-guard.
The Beavers have put up a brick wall against opponents, outscoring them 23-1, in climbing to No. 1 in both the OSAA state rankings and the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll. They have improved significantly from 2023, when they finished 6-4-5 in Carney's first season as coach.
But as Beaverton prepared to begin 6A Metro League play Oct. 3 at Southridge, the Beavers were keeping level heads.
“They're pretty humble,” Carney said. “They're not silly, they know they're not the best team in the state. We had a goal at the start of the season to see if we can win Metro and see what happens after that. So, we'll see.”
What they saw against Southridge was another victory, and one that has their league season off on the same foot as the nonconference slate.
The team has responded to the guidance of Carney, a native of England and longtime club coach who has been the director of FC Portland since 2019. It is the first high school coaching job for Carney, who was intrigued by the opportunity when the position came open last year, especially after a friend told him his style would not work in prep soccer.
“I thought, 'That's a challenge. I want to see,'” Carney said. “I got in, and I loved it.”
Carney immediately set out to develop a culture of accountability, and after some stumbles last season, it is paying off this year.
“Last year, I gave them a game plan and none of them read it,” Carney said. “I said, 'Stop complaining, you didn't read the plan.' This year when we got together I told them I was going to ask them questions on the game plan. If you're not reading it, you won't play for me.”
All but two starters returned from last season, including senior center back Theo Laufenberg, the team's backbone. Laufenberg, flanked by sophomores Luke Unruh and Cal Spear on the back line, have been outstanding in front of junior goalkeeper Mason Schinderle.
Defense has become a source of pride for the team.
“Even in some games where we're up two, they're still fighting,” Carney said. “They don't want to concede at all. I told them right at the start, 'You always want to score, but clean sheets win you championships.'”
Schinderle “has been absolutely top drawer” in goal, according to the coach.
“He's one of the best I've coached in 30 years,” Carney said.
The Beavers are scoring by committee. Senior Owen Brooks, who moved from defense to forward, and senior attacking midfielder Quinn Norby each have five goals. Junior Gio Ruano-Aguilera has four goals.
“We don't have a forward on the team, and we don't have anybody with a left foot,” Carney said. “What we're doing is pretty good considering. They just have so much heart and energy.”
The intensity of Brooks is infectious.
“He's just an absolute beast, and he plays with a smile on his face and has fun,” Carney said. “Everyone is just bouncing off him and having a great time.”
Beaverton has three one-goal victories, topping Franklin 1-0, No. 7 McMinnville 2-1 and Reynolds 1-0, and holds a 3-0 victory over 5A No. 5 Wilsonville. The Beavers played unbeaten and sixth-ranked South Eugene to a scoreless draw.
“They're the best team we've played,” Carney said of the Axe.
Spear scored with about 15 minutes left to break a 1-1 tie against McMinnville. Ruano-Aguilera scored in the second half of the 1-0 wins over Reynolds and Franklin.
Carney said he knows the top spot in the coaches poll doesn't carry much weight, but for a snapshot in time, the recognition means something to the team. The team is unburdened by high expectations.
They also know things only will get more difficult from here, with the familiar competition of the Metro league, along with postseason foes ahead of them. That being said, Carney is doing his best to keep his team in the moment, and believes they have what it takes to compete with anyone put before them.
“I try to keep them as grounded as possible because I know we're not the best team in the state,” Carney said. “But I know I've got a group of boys that have big hearts and are great people, and I think you can go far with that.”
Jerry Ulmer is a writer for OSAAtoday.
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