The Ashley Ridge boys’ soccer team is off to a flashy start in its debut year.
The Swamp Foxes went 4-1 in preseason action last week and won the Gilbert Preseason Classic tournament in the process.
Ashley Ridge defeated Northwood Academy in a scrimmage 6-0 March 3 before falling to Academic Magnet by the same margin March 4.
Ashley Ridge then defeated 4-A team North Augusta in the Gilbert tournament before it was postponed due to weather.
Tyler Haney led the Foxes with two goals in the game.
When the tournament picked back up March 7, the team defeated Saluda 3-1 in overtime with Haney scoring another pair of goals. Scott James also scored for the Foxes.
Then Ashley Ridge defeated Gilbert, a team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season, in another overtime game.
Haney scored in regulation as the teams finished knotted at a goal a piece. The Foxes then won on penalty kicks, hitting three to Gilbert’s two.
Ivan Moreno was the Swamp Fox keeper in all three wins during the tournament.
“I am extremely proud of our young men,” Ashley Ridge coach Nate Harris said. “We started nine freshmen and ended up playing our second overtime game in one day. Our players responded and won on penalty kicks to bring home the Championship.”
Nick Kennedy, Ethan Baker, Moreno, Connor Egbert, Kyle Egbert and Haney were all named to the All-tournament team.
While Harris is excited about the preseason results, he says the team of underclassmen still has a lot to prove.
“I anticipate a roller coaster ride this season,” he said. “We are a very young squad and will make our share of mistakes. We also have a very difficult schedule that will test us. Still, our young men have surprised me already and hopefully we will continue to surprise some people this season.”

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.