Patience has been the foundation of the Conneaut Boys Soccer team’s rebuilding process, and fourth-year head coach Joe Jury believes the Spartans are beginning to see the payoff.
After finishing 1-15-2 overall and 1-4-1 in the Chagrin Valley Conference a season ago, Conneaut enters 2026 with something it didn’t have a year ago—experience. The Spartans return eight starters and six sophomores who were forced into major roles as freshmen, giving the program a stronger foundation as it continues to develop.
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While the wins may not come overnight, Jury believes the growth taking place within the program is laying the groundwork for future success.
“We had six freshmen last season, all of whom are returning and were either starters or saw a great amount of playing time,” Jury said. “We are still young and inexperienced, but slightly less so than last season, and we have a lot of guys with potential to develop over the next couple of seasons.”
Experience Replaces Inexperience
One year ago, the Spartans relied heavily on underclassmen simply because they had no choice.
Now those same players return with valuable varsity minutes already under their belts. That experience should help Conneaut compete more consistently throughout the season.
The program’s focus isn’t solely on the scoreboard.
Jury has emphasized steady improvement each week, believing that continued development today will eventually translate into victories tomorrow.
“We need to continue taking steps forward,” Jury said. “We are a young team again, and the more experience these guys get the better they will be. On-field improvement, whether the record shows it or not, will be the metric for success this year.”
Replacing Leadership Will Be the Biggest Challenge
While Conneaut welcomes back much of its lineup, graduation created two significant vacancies.
The Spartans must replace their starting goalkeeper, along with the leadership provided by their senior captain.
Those losses extend beyond statistics.
“We lost our senior keeper as well as our senior captain,” Jury said. “Tactically, the keeper is a significant hole to fill, but the leadership of our senior captain will be tough to replace as well.”
Finding new voices to lead a youthful roster will be just as important as finding a new goalkeeper capable of anchoring the defense.
Team Identity Built Around the Players
Rather than forcing players into a rigid system, Jury prefers to let his personnel dictate the team’s style of play.
That flexibility has helped maximize the strengths of a roster still learning the varsity game.
“We try to build our team tactics and style of play based on the ability and style of our players rather than forcing our players to fit a predefined style of play.”
As this young group continues to mature, that adaptable philosophy could allow the Spartans to evolve into a more dangerous team as the season progresses.
Players to Watch
Austin Brown | Midfielder | Sophomore
Austin Brown emerged as one of the Chagrin Valley Conference’s top young midfielders last season after recording four goals and one assist, earning Second Team All-CVC and Second Team All-Ashtabula County honors.
He serves as the engine that keeps Conneaut moving.
“Austin is a true center midfield player for us as he is both the on-field engine and the heartbeat of the team,” Jury said. “He will step into any role and do whatever it takes to help his team succeed.”
Jensen Teppo | Forward | Sophomore
Jensen Teppo finished with one goal as a freshman, but his impact reached well beyond the scoresheet.
His relentless work ethic quickly earned the respect of teammates and coaches alike.
“Jensen emerged over the course of last season as a quiet leader with his gritty performances and knack for coming up big when it matters,” Jury said.
Dillon Cook | Defender | Junior
Dillon Cook established himself as a dependable presence on the back line during the 2025 season and is expected to anchor Conneaut’s defense this fall.
“Dillon emerged last season as an anchor for our defense, and we look forward to him solidifying his place on the back line this year,” Jury said.
Outlook
The Spartans remain one of the youngest teams in the conference, but they’re no longer learning on the fly.
With eight returning starters, a talented sophomore class gaining valuable experience, and standout midfielder Austin Brown leading the charge, Conneaut’s focus remains on steady improvement rather than immediate results.
If the young core continues developing as expected, the Spartans could begin turning close matches into victories and establish momentum for the future of the program.
