That happened with Montgomery in 2020. That was the year Michael Sherman took the program over after it didn’t have a varsity team since 2015. That first year, the Red Raiders took their lumps. They went 0-15 and gave up 121 goals.

But since that year, it’s been a gradual ascend upwards.

The team won three games in 2021, five in 2022 and last year, Sherman coached the Red Raiders to an 11-win campaign in which Montgomery reached the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and had the most wins in a season since seven in 2014.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Dylan Hill of Montgomery takes a shot on goal as Brody Magee of Shamokin tries to defend in Montgomery on Saturday.

The team has bought into what Sherman has preached since that first practice in the summer of 2020, and the Red Raiders are now expecting to be playoff bound, not simply wishing.

The key to that rebuild and players now buying in has been consistency of players coming out year after year.

“Getting to work together as a cohesive unit more than just everyone just doing their own thing. We tried to stress that. We do a lot of stuff in scrimmages and we want to be able to flip players all around,” Sherman said.

That versatility has paid off this year. On Saturday, Dylan Hill recorded two goals for Montgomery in a 6-1 win against Shamokin in the rain. Sherman started Hill at forward that game whereas he typically is a starting centerback. A centerback on Saturday is typically a center mid.

Sherman can mix and match his players on the field, plugging one into a different position and it helps the team win and play competitively.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Montgomery goalie Conor Irwin stares down Shamokin’s Anthony Hall during Saturday’s game. After tasting the playoffs last year, the Red Raiders now hope to be playoff contenders every year.

“The boys ability to switch around positions and know exactly on the field what everybody has to do (has been huge),” Sherman said. “We’re able to change the point of attack a little bit and show teams different things.”

Last year, Montgomery’s offense flowed through 50-goal scorer Owen Sherman. This year, the Red Raiders offense is more diverse. Players like Hill, Dylan Sherman, Xavier Koch, Camden Dalrymple and Demaj Stewart Williams are able to place balls into the back of the net.

“This year we’re able to spread the ball around in this game (Saturday). I was really pleased with how they got forward and gave us a lot of opportunities,” Sherman said. “If we keep hitting those through balls and those drop-back passes, the goals come.”

And that versatility scoring is helping the goals come.

“If we can get the ball consistently in the net and get up on teams, it allows us to move things around and shift the pieces. It’s a chess match,” Sherman said. “How you’re going to move your pieces compared to what they do with theirs.”

PHOTO PROVIDED Milton's Sammy Roarty joined the 50-goal club last week, joining former teammate Mackenzie Lopez in Milton history.

Last year, Montgomery went toe-to-toe with perennial District 4 power East Juniata, battling for 107 minutes of scoreless soccer against an extremely talented team. Playing East Juniata that well and strong and coming up just shy of advancing in the postseason has Montgomery’s players wanting more and wanting to get back.

“Anytime you experience success, it’s going to fuel the fire,” Sherman said. “This year we’re 5-4 and we had some games get away from us. South played us really good, we had some others like Lourdes, tight matches and stuff. This could be a seven or eight win team at this moment. The boys were unhappy with the way they’ve been playing, so we ramped it up another notch and this is the result.”

FINDING RHYTHM OFFENSIVELY

Early this season, Hughesville’s boys soccer team struggled to score goals. Yes, there was a 6-1 win over Troy to open the season, but that followed with two straight shutout losses to Northumberland Christian and Danville before a 2-1 loss to Selinsgrove.

Hughesville coach Jim Dennis knew his team had playmakers up top who could score, it was just a matter of getting into a rhythm and shaking early rust off.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Williamsport’s Jaelynn Helmrich dribbles against Mifflinburg during a game last week. Helmrich and Breah Phillips are forming a solid duo up top for the Millionaires this season.

“I don’t feel we were playing bad early on, we just weren’t finishing our chances. It’s tough to win when you struggle to score,” Hughesville coach Jim Dennis said. “That’s what has started to change for us is putting the ball in the net.”

After that three-game skid, Hughesville started putting things together. The Spartans beat Southern Columbia, 3-2, and blanked Shamokin, 5-0, before a scoreless double overtime draw vs. Bloomsburg. Hughesville battled Loyalsock tough and scored five against a Wellsboro team with a solid back line.

The key to that offensive spark is the combination of Sam Haddon and Carter Gormont. Haddon is a junior and has a team-high nine goals while Gormont, a freshman, has scored seven. The duo have 16 of the team’s 21 goals and are starting to form a potent duo for defenses to focus on.

“Sam and Carter are starting to click and we hope that leads to continued success. Carter is overcoming those freshman jitters and starting to perform like we knew he was capable,” Dennis said. “Sam is trying to be that mentor to Carter while taking advantage of his chances. When they are both on, we should be able to score a lot of goals and hopefully make a push for the playoffs.”

The Spartans are 4-5-2 and have a tough schedule coming up with teams such as Central Columbia, Warrior Run, Montoursville and Lewisburg yet on the schedule. But Dennis knows his team can score and the Spartans are hoping to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

SET PIECES PAYING OFF

If you were at the Montgomery Athletic Community Complex soccer field on Saturday, you got to see one of the best textbook examples of a corner kick paying off. In the second half, Camden Dalrymple took a corner kick and perfectly sent it to the far right post where Demaj Stewart Williams headed it in for a goal.

You couldn’t have played that ball any better. Anytime a team can execute a set piece to perfection, it adds a layer of depth to the offense. For Montgomery, that’s paying off.

Saturday was Stewart Williams’ third header off a corner kick for a goal.

“Camden Dalrymple primarily takes our corner kicks, he does a great job at placing the ball. That one in particular, that was just text book. You couldn’t script that any better,” Montgomery coach Michael Sherman said. “When you start getting set piece goals, it frees up the offense as well because it takes pressure off our forwards. If they’re having a bad game and can’t score, and we’re getting off set pieces, it doesn’t matter how they end up in the back of the net as long as they end up in the back of the net.”

NOWHERE BUT UP

It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing the last few weeks for the Williamsport girls soccer team, but progress is progress and for coach Beckham Sibiski, that’s what he’s glad to be seeing.

The Millionaires have gone 2-4 in their past six games, but the improvement is what sticks out.

Williamsport lost to Central Columbia, 8-0, and Shikellamy, 9-0, with a 7-0 win over Shore sandwiched between those losses.

But the Shikellamy loss marked the first of a three-game skid, following games with Altoona (4-1) and Montoursville (1-0).

“(We were) on a three-game losing skid but we’ve played better each game, which is really the goal. We know we’re going to go to districts, I’ve told you countless times we want to be our best in late October, early November,” Sibiski said after falling in a close game to Montoursivlle. “I said tonight (after falling to Montoursville), Altoona was the valley and it’s only up from here. We showed signs of getting better tonight, which is awesome.”

That loss to the Warriors was followed with a win over Mifflinburg, 3-2, in overtime when Jaelynn Helmrich scored a game-winner on an overtime penalty kick.

“I feel like today (vs. Mifflinburg) wasn’t our best, but you’re going to have those rocky moments. This week just sums up soccer for us so far. We played so well at Montoursville and were unfortunate not to get a result,” Sibiski said following the Mifflinburg game. “Today (vs. Wildcats), we didn’t play our best but were fortunate to get our result.”

The Millionaires know the end game is playing well in October and into November when it matters most.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction, and a win always helps,” Sibiski said.

FINDING THEIR GROOVE

Whenever a team faces adversity with some injuries, it’s always a mentality of who can step up and fill those roles? What player is able to fill in and keep the team rolling?

Williamsport suffered a few injuries, but the offense has been playing well. Enter Jaelynn Helmrich and Breah Phillips being relied on to score goals.

“The conversation goes back to the beginning of the year when we talked about versatility on the squad and a lot of girls have played a lot of different positions,” Sibiski said. “We have a lot of different striker pairings, centermid pairings, outside mid pairings. (Against Mifflinburg), we somewhat figured out what worked. we have some girls injured, those two combined well.”

They definitely did. Helmrich fed Phillips a great pass in the first half of Thursday’s game against the Wildcats which Phillips buried to tie the game 1-1 before halftime. In the second half, it was Helmrich who scored a goal to put Williamsport ahead before her game-winner in overtime.

Helmrich knows that her and Phillips could be even better on the pitch. It all comes down to timing. And if they get that timing down? Defenses will be on alert.

“We’re really working on our timing right now, we’re going to get it one of these days I know we are. I’m always looking to put her through because I have trust and faith in her to finish because she’s such a good forward up there,” Helmrich said. “One of these times she’s gonna get that timing down and we’re going to be able to connect and we’re going to be really dangerous toward the end of the season when it really matters.”

THE 50-GOAL CLUB

Milton has a history of outstanding scorers in its girls soccer program. There’s the Landis sisters — all three who played outstanding in Caitlin, Chelsea and Courtney — and recently, Mackenzie Lopez. You can add another name to that list, however: Sammy Roarty.

The Black Panther scored twice in Tuesday’s 3-0 win against a talented Hughesville team and in the process, reached 50 goals for her career.

“I’m so proud of her. She has worked so hard on her craft,” Milton girls coach Rod Harris said. “It’s amazing to see her get it in a game like we had tonight also.”

Milton battled a tough Spartans team and came out with the shutout win. Roarty scored the game’s opening goal before she put in the game’s third goal, her 15th of the year and 50th for her career.

“She is a baller and knows her stats and accomplishments,” Harris said. “It’s not something we focused on or spoke about, however we both knew it was getting close.”

Roarty’s milestone comes just a year after Lopez reached 75 career goals and 50 career assists with Milton.

Jon Gerardi is the sports editor at the Sun-Gazette and covers high school soccer. He can be reached by email at jgerardi@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JonGerardi.

JON GERARDI’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

BOYS SOCCER

1. LEWISBURG (9-1-1): The Green Dragons are playoff bound, but Lewisburg reaching the postseason is about as common as the sun rising each morning. Lewisburg hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2001, an absurd streak within District 4. Lewisburg clinched that ninth win by beating Central Mountain, 4-0, as Isaac Ayres posted two goals and Viktor Permyashkin had three assists.

2. MILTON (8-3-1): Milton’s biggest test this year comes this afternoon as the Black Panthers host Lewisburg under the lights in a game that should be good until the end. Lewisburg is without question one of the district’s best defensive-oriented teams, and Milton is able to put up goals. Expect a good one if you head to Alumni Stadium.

3. MONTOURSVILLE (9-3): After battling Central Columbia extremely tough, the Warriors posted back-to-back shutouts against Shamokin and Shikellamy before another close loss, this time to Warrior Run (2-1).

4. WILLIAMSPORT (6-5): The Millionaires responded after a rough 6-0 loss to Altoona on the road with back-to-back wins. Williamsport first outlasted Danville on the road, 4-3, before blanking Jersey Shore, 2-0, to go back above .500. The Millionaires have some tough games coming up including Midd-West and Lewisburg, but those will help prepare Williamsport when districts roll around.

t-5. WELLSBORO (11-2): The Green Hornets got back to winning after a setback to Hughesville last week and beat Athens (1-0) and North Penn-Liberty (6-2) to secure a playoff berth. This marks the 11th 10-win season for the Green Hornets since 2013. The only time during that run Wellsboro didn’t reach 10 wins was in 2021 (9).

t-5. LOYALSOCK (6-4-1): Loyalsock stumbled on the road against a very talented Midd-West team, 4-1, and bounced back by beating Southern Columbia, 2-1. Evan Anderson has been playing well game after game and leads Loyalsock with 10 goals, averaging 1.1 per game.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK — Bodie Moyer, Muncy

Moyer has stepped up time and time again this year to keep Muncy in games. Just ask coach John Karchiner how clutch of a goalie he is. On Thursday, Moyer again showcased his talent in goal as he posted nine saves to prevent Meadowbrook Christian from rallying. Meadowbrook Christian cut the game to 2-1, but Moyer played well the remainder of the game to seal the win.

GIRLS SOCCER

1. SOUTH (11-0-1): The Mounties have yet to suffer a loss this year following another win, this time beating Mid-Penn foe Benton, 1-0. That’s a credit to South’s outstanding offense being able to spread the ball around and a defense that isn’t allowing teams to score against them. Althea Street leads the area in shutouts with five. Teams have to make shots against South count as the Mounties are allowing an average of just 4.5 against.

2. MILTON (10-0-1): The Black Panthers held off a gutsy Loyalsock team for an exciting 3-2 win on Thursday and in the process, secured a District 4 playoff berth. The Lancers showed a lot of fight in that loss to Milton. Give Milton credit, it never broke defensively to allow Loyalsock to shift momentum late.

3. HUGHESVILLE (7-2): Hughesville coach Cody Hack has the Spartans refocused in their last few games after a 3-0 setback last week to Milton. Since then, Hughesville beat Lewisburg and Muncy by a combined 11-2 score.

4. WARRIOR RUN (11-1): The Defenders are riding a nine-game winning streak and have scored four or more goals in four consecutive games. The Defenders have a tough game on Wednesday against unbeaten South Williamsport. Get your popcorn ready for that one folks, expect a fun game.

5. WILLIAMSPORT (6-6): After taking Mifflinburg into overtime on Thursday and beating the Wildcats on a penalty kick in overtime, the Millionaires blanked Athens, 2-0, to move to .500. As noted in my column, Jaelynn Helmrich and Breah Phillips are emerging as a solid 1-2 punch up top for the Millionaires.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK — Lauren O’Malley, Loyalsock and Jaelynn Helmrich, Williamsport

Loyalsock hosted a nine-win Line Mountain team and handed the Eagles their third loss. And that was thanks to O’Malley, who posted a hat trick for Loyalsock. O’Malley has been a huge boost for the Lancers’ offense this season. Helmrich was key for Williamsport defeating Mifflinburg in a thriller last week at home in overtime, 3-2. Helmricih played a perfect pass to assist Breah Phillips for Williamsport’s first goal before Helmrich put in two of her own, including the game-winner on a penalty kick in overtime.