NEW PALESTINE — First-year coach Brett Canova isn’t going to change the culture for the New Palestine boys’ soccer program, he’s going to continue it.
A former assistant in the program, Canova is in his first season as head coach of the varsity program. He replaces Justin Sass, who is now coaching the team at New Palestine Junior High School. Sass is a teacher at NPJHS.
“There’s not much changing,” Canova, a four-year New Palestine assistant and former head coach at Bishop Chatard High School, said. “We have similar views on how to develop the program.
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“We’re focusing on the culture of the team more than wins and losses.”
Canova is realistic when it comes to Ws and Ls. Last year’s club finished 3-13-1 and 1-6 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference and this year’s group will be very inexperienced.
Jon Moore, a 13-goal scorer and an All-HHC, all-county selection in 2019 has graduated. So has Zach Martin, who had four goals, eight assists and joined Moore on the All-HHC and all-county groups. Carson Sams, another all-county choice, was also a member of the Class of 2020.
The Dragons will have only one senior, forward Colby Sharp.
“We are going to need some from him as young as we’re going to be,” Canova said. “He’s doing well and is bring some nice experience, some toughness and he plays hard.
“He’s having to transition over to having new guys behind him. So far, so good. He has good players behind him, they’re just new to him.”
Sharp may be the lone member from the next graduating class, but there are a few others returning that were either starters or key reserves.
Coach’s son, Garrett Canova is a returning junior midfielder. Junior Sam Bacon is a veteran on the back line, while Ethan Windham is a third junior with previous varsity minutes.
Shane Cinfel, a sophomore, is expected to be another key component on the back line. The last line of defense, goalkeeper Blake Bobrow, is a sophomore who showed promise when he earned a starting spot late last season.
Coach Canova has 28 total players on this year’s varsity and junior varsity groups. Of the 28, 12 are freshmen. The coach added, overall, there are 16 new players to the team.
Along with the questions that go along with having first-year players, there is the addition of unknowns that coincide with the rules and regulations related to practicing and playing during a pandemic.
Coach Canova said it has been challenging, but it is better than the alternative of not having the chance to play at all. They’re taking a “next man up” approach and are grateful to have the opportunity to be on the field.
“They get to go out and play and have a normal life for a little while,” he said. “Having a season is a lot better than not having one.”
Coach Canova believes the current circumstances make team culture and attitude an even more important part to the upcoming season.
“You hate talking about it, but (the pandemic) is part of the season,” he said. “We’re going to have to deal with it. It’s out of our control and we have to make the most of it. It’s going to be a great year to build culture, because there is so much to overcome.
“I have a good group of kids and they’re fun to coach. I love to coach and having good kids is pretty awesome.”
Canova’s crew will get to go up against an opponent for the first time today. The Dragons are playing host to Heritage Christian for an 11:30 a.m. scrimmage. The regular season kicks off with a match 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mooresville.
The opening HHC encounter is 5 p.m. Thursday at Yorktown.
The Dragons have six road matches on their schedule before the first home contest, Sept. 1 at 5:30 p.m. against county/conference/sectional rival Mt. Vernon.
