The Fox and Seckman boys soccer teams shared two outcomes in 2024. Both teams finished 7-5 and tied for third place in the Suburban Conference Green pool, and both were shut out in the first round of the Class 4 District 1 tournament.
Other than that, the Warriors and Jaguars took far different paths to last year’s finish. Fox began the year 0-6, won five of its next six games, didn’t score a goal in its last three games and ultimately finished with an overall mark of 9-16. Seckman (14-9) had won six straight games going into districts, including a 3-0 shutout over the Warriors. Fox beat the Jaguars 1-0 earlier at the Hillsboro Tournament.
This season presents an equal amount of similarities and differences between the C-6 rivals. Warrior head coach Nate Niehaus begins his 25th year as a teacher and coach in the school district. This is Cole Easley’s first year as head coach at Seckman and third with the program. He replaced Tim Bookstaver, who served the program for 30 years.
“I am grateful for the foundation that Tim Bookstaver has laid as head coach of the program for many years,” Easley said as both Fox and Seckman began fall practice Monday. Easley and Niehaus will bring their teams together in Arnold on Sept. 8 and in Imperial on Oct. 23. The Missouri State High School Activities Association will release class and district assignments later this month.
For the Warriors weekday of practice, Niehaus puts his players in scrimmages to try and evaluate the team’s framework for the season.
“There’s drills and conditioning stuff, but I really want to evaluate them and see who stands out,” said Niehaus, who is also head coach of the Fox girls soccer team.
Drew Harris finished his four-year career in goal for the Warriors with a school-record 28 shutouts. Senior Will Arnold is in the Fox net this year.
“He’s been with us the whole time,” Niehaus said of Arnold’s ascension in the program.
Defender James Momoh is another senior who didn’t play for the Warriors last year but is expected to be a key player. Junior Ethan Meyer returns to the backfield.
Seniors Cole Bridick and Ryan Kettler form the strength of Fox from the midfield, Niehaus said. Kettler is in his fourth year on the varsity.
“He’s a great leader, smart player, has athletic ability and can score goals. He has a great shot,” Niehaus said. “Cole is very fluid, able to create plays.”
Senior forward Owen Cook led the Warriors with 11 goals last season. Cook started as a freshman and was moved to striker last year out of necessity. Senior Dylan Dresch has good speed to join Cook up top.
Fox begins play this season in the Bishop DuBourg round-robin tournament against the host Cavaliers in the first round Aug. 28. Affton and St. Pius X are also in the tournament.
“A little bit of rebuilding. We have a large freshman class,” Niehaus said.
The Seckman boys open its season at home against Hillsboro of the Jefferson County Activities Association. In the 2024 opener, midfielder Gavin Derleth scored two second-half goals to lead the Jaguars to a 2-1 win over the Hawks. Derleth is his team’s leading returning scorer after he had 10 goals, eight assists and 28 points. Ryan Harris, a 2025 graduate, led Seckman with 15 goals and 31 points.
“(Derleth is) smart and tactical on the ball, finds players making runs into space, creative and savvy,” Easley said.
Seniors Peyton Falvey (defender) and Blake Aikin (midfield) and juniors Brayden Winschel (midfield) and Will Kuehn (midfield) are other experienced returning starters. Easley said Falvey is a very hard-working player, natural-born leader, comfortable on the ball and makes sound runs off the ball; Winschel is a workhorse-type of player, technical with the run and has an idea or purpose behind every pass; and Kuehn is smart with the ball, plays the ball into space and onto runs well.
Senior Jordan Prater and sophomore Beckett Pauly are in goal for the Jags. Prater led the team in minutes played (1,053), shutouts (five) and had a 1.20 goals against average. Pauly allowed four goals in 123 minutes and his GAA was 0.99.