Season Preview: Hill School

HILL SCHOOL
Coach: Chris Drowne, 10th season
Last year’s record: 3-1-1 Mid-Atlantic Prep League, 16-3-2 overall, PAISAA Champions
Players to watch: Seniors Jimmy Davidson, def.; Jason Kuyper, fwd.; Preston Gordon, def./mid. Juniors Toni Adewole, def.; Ethan Norton, def./mid.
Outlook: Going into last season, it was hard to believe the Blues could have put on an encore performance on 2013’s 19-1 season where they did the double winning the MAPL and PAISAA titles. Then they did. All-Area Player of the Year Mark Forrest (18 goals, 12 assists) led Hill to an improbable PAISAA repeat and 16-3-2 campaign. Along with Forrest (Lehigh) and fellow All-Area first teamers Sam Norton and Will Blake, Hill graduated eight starters. Co-captains Jimmy Davidson and Jason Kuyper will be charged with leading a largely new-look squad that features a talented sophomore crop. “Returning two starters from a back four that allowed just 23 goals in 21 matches with three very strong backs ready to join them, should give us a base from which to let the rest of our youth settle in throughout the midfield and up top,” coach Chris Drowne said. “Relinquishing our MAPL title for the first time since 2011 stung, but we always set our goal on securing that trophy. The PAISAA title as a 4th seed was a function of a veteran post-season team playing confidently. Having that confidence transfer to this year’s team is our goal.” The Blues will match up with four teams ranked in the top 20 in the national prep rankings in the early portion of the year with designs on finding the form that will allow them maintain pace in the MAPL and PAISAA.