Rootstown’s Boys Soccer team has spent the past three seasons getting progressively closer to where it wants to be.
Now, the Rovers enter the 2026 season believing they have the experience, talent, and motivation to take the final step.
Rootstown is coming off a 15-5-1 season in which it went 4-1 in the CVC Valley Division, won a district championship and finished as a regional runner-up. The Rovers return 10 letter winners from that team, giving 25th-year head coach Charlie Voth one of the most experienced groups he has had during his tenure at Rootstown.
“After losing only five seniors to graduation, we will return with a strong core of experienced and talented players,” Voth said. “Our goal is to build off of the previous three years of tournament runs–district runners-up, regional semifinalists, regional runners-up–to hopefully win our first regional championship.”
Pastor leads potent Rootstown attack
Rootstown’s championship hopes begin with an offense that returns several proven playmakers, including senior Zach Pastor.
Pastor is coming off a dominant junior season in which he scored 31 goals and added 13 assists. He earned first-team All-CVC and All-District honors, was named Portage County Co-Player of the Year, and earned All-Ohio and All-Great Lakes Region recognition.
“Zach Pastor returns for his senior year as one of the best offensive threats in Portage County,” Voth said. “He possesses an amazing ability to get behind defenders with the ball at his feet and will finish close shots with ease.”
Pastor won’t have to carry the attack alone.
Senior Sam Textor scored eight goals last season and could be poised for an even bigger senior campaign.
“Sam Textor will look to join Pastor up top and use his explosive speed to help stretch the field while combining with our playmakers,” Voth said. “While we have seen the spark in the past, he is truly poised for a breakout season this year.”
Scarlett is the heartbeat of the midfield
The Rovers also return plenty of production and experience in the midfield, led by senior Bryson Scarlett.
Scarlett scored four goals and distributed 17 assists last season while earning first-team All-CVC and All-District honors and second-team All-County recognition.
His value to Rootstown, however, goes well beyond the numbers.
“Bryson Scarlett has proven time and time again that he is the heartbeat of the team,” Voth said. “Scarlett is a tenacious defender that also has superb playmaking abilities — a combination that has been on display since his freshman year.”
Junior Dylan Boland adds another proven scoring threat after recording 12 goals and three assists last season. Boland earned first-team All-CVC, second-team All-District, and honorable mention All-County honors.
“Boland combines a powerful shot, hard-nosed defending, and a strong soccer IQ into his own style of soccer,” Voth said.
Senior Tycho Smolk provides Voth with another veteran playmaker after producing four goals and seven assists last season.
“Smolk brings a strong sense of composure and foot skills to the team as a playmaker,” Voth said. “Smolk is a versatile player who can excel on both the midfield and the forward lines.”
With Pastor and Textor up front and Scarlett, Boland and Smolk capable of creating and finishing chances from the midfield, Rootstown returns much of the offensive production that fueled last season’s postseason run.
Experience returns to the back line
Rootstown also brings back a veteran foundation defensively.
Seniors Caleb Fillmore and Dean Abdlrasul return for one more season on the back line. Fillmore finished last season with one goal and five assists while Abdlrasul contributed a goal and two assists.
Both also provide an unusual offensive weapon from the defensive end.
“Both Fillmore and Abdlrasul possess the ability to get us out of danger and to create chances by using their long throw-ins,” Voth said.
Junior Daniell Strebler could return to the defensive line after moving between positions during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Sophomore Alex Pastor also could take on an expanded defensive role after demonstrating his versatility as a freshman. Pastor recorded two goals and three assists while playing throughout the formation.
“His speed and strength can be used in various positions,” Voth said, adding that Pastor could be a leading candidate to replace graduated defender Ben Smith.
Zager returns after postseason heroics
Behind that defense is a goalkeeper who has already proven he can deliver when Rootstown’s season is on the line.
Senior Noah Zager recorded 75 saves and seven shutouts last season while earning first-team All-CVC, second-team All-County and honorable mention All-District recognition.
His defining performance came in Rootstown’s regional semifinal against top-seeded Champion.
With a trip to the regional final hanging in the balance, Zager stopped three of Champion’s five penalty kicks in the shootout. He saved the final two attempts to send the Rovers to the second regional championship game in program history.
Sophomore Tyson Rainer also returns and will compete for the starting job after gaining experience at the junior varsity level.
“Rainer saw a lot of action during our JV contests last season and has continued to improve over the spring and summer,” Voth said.
Young Rovers add to experienced core
While Rootstown’s senior class provides the foundation for the 2026 season, Voth also has several younger players who could work their way into larger roles.
Senior defender Brayden Dougherty is a new addition who Voth said has a great foundation, while sophomore Zandyr Ammons returns after scoring two goals and adding an assist. Voth described Ammons as a tenacious and skilled attacker who plays with impressive composure.
Sophomore Gabe Baker brings speed and skill to the forward and midfield lines, while sophomore Jaxson Smith is another versatile option in the midfield or on defense.
Voth described Smith as an “up-and-coming player that shows a lot of promise.”
The Rovers’ 28-player roster also includes senior Nigel Wright, junior Zander Frank, sophomores Everett Cone, Luke Cone, Chase Frick, Dylan Sturm, Ethan Textor and Liam Thomas, and freshmen Liam Calvin, Kyle Derteen, Lucas Ginter, Tyler Hindel and Zane Smialek.
That depth could become particularly important as Rootstown develops the next group that eventually will lead the program.
Rovers ready to chase the next step
Voth enters his 25th season at Rootstown with a 251-151-37 record and his 32nd season overall after spending seven years at Firestone. Longtime assistant Aaron Miracle returns for his 22nd season, with Michael Farkash entering his sixth and Chris Earls his third.
Together, they will lead a team that doesn’t have to imagine what a deep postseason run looks like.
Most of these Rovers have already lived it.
They have experienced the disappointment of coming up short in the tournament and the excitement of advancing farther the following season. Last fall, they were one victory away from reaching the state semifinals.
Now they return an All-Ohio scorer in Pastor, one of the area’s top playmakers in Scarlett, another double-digit scorer in Boland, several experienced defenders, and a goalkeeper who has already delivered one of the biggest postseason performances in program history.
The expectations that come with that experience are significant, but so is the opportunity.
Rootstown’s progression over the past three seasons has taken the Rovers from district runner-up to regional semifinalist to regional runner-up.
There is only one logical next step.
The Rovers enter 2026 determined to take it.
