Bryce Stant leads West M boys soccer to first regional in 19 years
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COSHOCTON – The Great Wall of Stant has proven unconquerable for much of the season.
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That would be Bryce Stant, West Muskingum's goalie, who was enjoying an All-Ohio-caliber campaign in 2025 before a foot injury ended his season. He sat and watched as his Tornado squad lost to St. Clairsville in the district finals, a wound that remains open and bleeding.
Now both are getting second chances.
Stant had no room for error in a Division IV district final against the determined Black Bears on Oct. 29 at Stewart Field, as Dyllan Farmer’s goal late in the first half was the only offense in a rugged affair that played more like backyard football.
And while Stant wasn't need much — he made only four saves — all were vital. A few, like a diving stop high to his right off a Cameron Murphy free kick in the 17th minute of the second half, which essentially made the difference in a 1-0 win against River View that secured the program's first regional berth since 2007.
"I had a good view," Farmer said. "He basically just stepped over the crossbar. It was a great save. (His saves) were huge. He has been a big-time guy for us and he is going to continue to do that at the next level and beyond."
'The best save I've made'
Stant's save came on a hard hooking shot high to his right off the foot of a talented sniper in Murphy, one of the few players left from River View's state championship squad in 2024. He said those sort of moments are spawned in practice, where he tries to make the most of his opportunities.
Stant needed only five saves. He improved to 11-1-1 with a 0.89 goals against average in games that he has started.
"Every single action, every single rep, every time I see the ball, I'm just trying to be the best I can be every day, so when I get a shot like that I can come up with a big save," Stant said. "It's the best save I've made in my career and it just happened to be in the district finals."
West coach Ryan Barks has grown used to such things, adding there is a running joke within the team that only goals he allows are those find small spaces. He knows the luxury of having an eliminator on the back end. He estimated that 10 of those goals were hard shots from long distances that hooked to places no goalie could reach.
That made the focus on set pieces against River View. It was good thing, as there were 34 fouls called and multiple yellow cards issued between the two teams.
"Especially free kicks," Barks said. "He made a glorious save and we knew he could. But everybody is looking to fine-tune and try to take their games to the next level. (Stant) has done it this year."
Farming up a winner
That Stant and the quick, aggressive Tornado defensive corps maintained a clean sheet, prevented a potential shootout.
"I thought we would for sure need another goals to hold up up," Farmer said. "But our defense stayed strong and we fought."
Aiden Metz rattled a shot off the goal in the game's early stages. It proved be a sign of things to come for both teams, but Farmer took advantage of one of the game's few scoring opportunities, feathering a low shot past a diving past Black Bear keeper Easton Wesney with 12:20 left in the half.
It was a play set up by a perfectly placed centering pass from the left wing by freshman Ethan Graves, who managed to lead Farmer with his momentum heading downhill.
"I saw the ball get switched (to the wing) and saw (the defenders) trap it," Farmer said. "So I ran across their back line and he played me the perfect ball. I took my touch in space and I just trust my foot."
'We want them'
The Tornadoes (15-2-3) now return for a rematch with the Red Devils (14-6-0) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 at McFarland Stadium in Cambridge, the same site as the 2025 matchup. St. C won the other East District bracket with a 3-2 win against Lisbon Beaver Local at Richmond Edison.
Barks called it "a great rematch" and that he expects both teams to be well-prepared with five days to prepare. West knocked off the Red Devils, 3-0, in the regular season at home, a match the Tornadoes dominated in a two-goal second half.
"I think the kids are going to be ready," Barks said. "I truly do. Their coach does a great job. We had a good match in the middle of the year. I know he's going to be ready for us. We'll be ready for them."
Farmer, who now has a team-high 18 goals, confirmed the team has stewed on the tournament loss for months.
"We want revenge on those guys," Farmer said. "They got us last year when we had no keeper, you know? There is just bad blood between them and us, and we want them."
River View eyeing bright future
River View coach Vince Andrews saw his team enter with a 10-9-0 record, which came with a disclaimer. Like 2025, when his son Parker, widely considered the best offensive player in the Muskingum Valley League, was lost to a collarbone injury, he rarely had his full allotment of players.
"It's like, just when you think you're getting things figured out, somebody throws a loop into it," Andrews said. "Injuries will get you, because you just don't have the depth. That's one thing I will say is positive: We built a lot of depth this year."
This year, it was Murphy, who battled a deep bone bruise in his knee, and Wesney, who missed multiple games at goal. Murphy was a warrior against the Tornadoes, playing far more than anyone in old gold and black expected. Wesney also missed the regular season meeting with West.
"I didn't think he'd be able to get around like that, because he hasn't," Andrews said of Murphy. "I thought we might have him for 10-minute spurts. He's a difference maker when he's healthy."
Andrews said he is encouraged entering the offseason, due to the emergence of underclassmen such as freshman Cooper Alverson and sophomore Jax Lowe. The former led the team in goals per game and Lowe was the top assist man. Wesney and captains Murphy and Kasen Summers are also among those expected back.
"A lot of youth and a lot of growth," Andrews said. "We've had a lot of guys emerge this year. There have been challenges and injuries, but I've been pleased with the way the younger players have developed. That definitely makes me optimistic moving forward."
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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Bryce Stant leads West M boys soccer to first regional in 19 years