Young Valley Forge Boys Soccer Team Builds Around Key Returners

Valley Forge enters the boys soccer season with a young roster and a clear emphasis on development. The Patriots have only three seniors and seven juniors, while 22 sophomores make up the majority of the team. That composition gives Valley Forge a sizable group of players who can grow together, but it also places added responsibility on the upperclassmen to provide stability throughout the season.

Senior Maksym Cherkashyn leads the group of key returners and players to watch. Adrian Zaharia (JR) also figures prominently in the Patriots’ plans, along with juniors Erik Hysi, Brendan Brunk and Reece French. Their experience will be important as Valley Forge works to establish consistency around a sophomore-heavy roster.

The sophomore class includes several players expected to take on notable roles. Nicolas Gonzalez and Gavin Kwitkowski are listed among the key returning players and newcomers, while Evan Robinson and Abdul Wahdat join them as players to watch. With so many underclassmen in the lineup, the Patriots’ depth and long-term potential are central to their identity. Turning that youth into dependable play will be one of the team’s primary tasks.

Several dates stand out on the schedule. Valley Forge faces Holy Name on Aug. 20 before traveling to North Royalton on Aug. 27. The Patriots host North Olmsted on Sept. 9, another early test for a lineup that will still be developing its chemistry. An Oct. 14 home matchup against Normandy also gives Valley Forge a notable late-season fixture.

The schedule also lists a home match against an opponent to be announced at 6 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. By that stage, Valley Forge’s large sophomore group will have had time to settle into its responsibilities alongside Maksym Cherkashyn and the other experienced returners. The Patriots’ outlook will depend on how quickly that balance of veteran leadership and young talent produces cohesion on the field.