Boys Soccer Coverage, presented by 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon: Westwood Embraces a New Identity

After graduating 16 seniors from the 2025 squad, Westwood Boys Soccer head coach Josh Mitchell is turning to a talented, but inexperienced, group that will lean on technique, soccer IQ and resilience.
 
As the faces have changed, so has the style of soccer Mitchell expects his team to play.
 
“It’s just completely different teams from last year to this year,” Mitchell said. “Last year, all seniors, they were all big, strong and fast and had experience on the team. We could rely on that. This year, we’re smaller, younger, inexperienced.”
 
Inexperienced does not mean untalented, and Mitchell knew this transition was coming. He spent much of last season keeping tabs on the development of Westwood’s JV players, working closely with JV coach Marty Lavigne, determing which players were demonstrating the skill, fitness and leadership necessary to eventually make the jump to varsity.
 
That time is now!
 
“We have a younger team with no experience, but we have talent and we have potential,” Mitchell said. “We’re looking to those younger guys to really pick up the slack that we lost with our 16 seniors.”
 
Only five varsity players return from last season, making leadership particularly important. The squad will be captained by Zack Bern, George Stamatakos and Caleb Fengler.
 
Bern’s experience provides a particularly good example for the players now trying to establish themselves. He spent the first half of last season on the varsity bench before working his way into the lineup and eventually starting at center defensive midfield during the second half of the year.
 
“The season’s only two months long, which related to the calendar seems quick, but it’s a long season,” Mitchell said. “We need those guys on the bench to not get discouraged and to keep fighting for time and fighting for spots.”
 
A Different Formula
 
The dramatic roster turnover has also forced Mitchell to reconsider exactly how Westwood will win games. A year ago, the Wolverines could overwhelm opponents with size, speed, strength and experience. With those advantages diminished, Mitchell has placed an even greater emphasis on precision and fundamentals during the preseason.
 
The details matter, as does a players’ positioning. As I watched practice Thursday night, it was clear how focused Mitchell is on maximizing each touch, eliminating mistakes that affect pace and making quality passes to keep the speed at a high level. He wants the players to keep the ball on the ground, maintain possession and make opponents work to get it back.
 
“Luckily, these guys have great IQ,” Mitchell said. “A lot of them play club soccer and we’re relying on that and their technical skill. Whereas last year we were relying on fitness and speed and size. We need to play to our strengths. IQ and technique are our strengths, so we’re going to focus on that this year.”
 
The Men In Net
 
There is competition at goalkeeper. Westwood had four keepers try out, with Mitchell saying all four were legitimate candidates not merely to make the roster, but to compete for the starting position. The Wolverines ultimately kept three: Fengler, Myles Laramie and Tim French.
 
It’s still not settled who will get the start in net when Westwood opens the year against Norwood on September 9.
 
Staying Focused On The Big Picture
 
As with any team getting used to playing at the next level, Mitchell understands there might be growing pains. The Wolverines will encounter more experienced teams, including the traditional challenges awaiting them in the Tri-Valley League. The goal is to make sure one bad sequence, one goal or one loss doesn’t become something larger.
 
“I need these guys to be confident that they can stick in with the big guys,” Mitchell said. “If we get scored on, if we lose a game, it’s not the end of the world. We keep looking up, we keep looking forward and we just keep pushing. Even if we can get off the field with one point because we forced a draw, that’s good.”
 
As the season unfolds, you’ll see a team figuring itself out, creating new memories and etching its own place in the history books. Many have been waiting for an opportunity, and the time to shine has come.
 
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