By Lucas Sullivan for the Springfield News Sun

Catholic Central coach Shane Latham understands the phrase “Luck of the Irish” and the old adage that you’d rather be lucky than good.

For now, Latham is just happy with his team being good.

Thanks to great play from senior captains Brennan Predraza, Steve Shonk and Jordan Halloran, Catholic Central is 3-0 and ranked second in the latest Division III Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association poll.

“It’s early yet, but obviously I am pleased with the way we are playing,” Latham said. “We returned eight starters from last year’s team, so you would expect to be better.”

But in actuality, with North junior transfers Mic Schmitt, a midfielder, and Chris Neely, a defender, bringing varsity experience, the Irish really have 10 returnees.

“They both started at North as sophomores, so that helps,” Latham said. “They bring extra experience to the team, and that always helps.”

So far, it has been Halloran providing the offensive power for the Irish with six goals in three games, including four goals against Yellow Springs on Thursday.

Shonk leads the team in assists with three, while Predraza has solidified the Irish attack at midfield while playing both offense and defense.

“It’s so hard to put each one of them in a separate category,” Latham said. “They each bring different aspects to the game, sure, and they work so well together.”

Latham is thankful for his experienced captains because he said it makes his job easier during practice and in games.

“You would like to think that every player is an extension of the coach,” Latham said. “But it does benefit the team to have three guys out there like that, that can lead the team.”

Then there’s Latham’s son Stefan, a sophomore midfielder/forward. Stefan is second on the team in goals with three, making it easier to live up to being the coach’s son.

That shouldn’t be a problem, though. Stefan has loads of talent and should be one of the better players to come out of Catholic Central by the time he graduates.

But that’s way in the future, and father Shane is worried about now.

Everybody’s goal is to get to the state playoffs,” said Latham, whose team won a state title in 2001. “That’s what we’re aiming for. That’s what we play for.”

The Irish will take a big step toward that goal with a win over top-ranked Cincinnati Summit Country Day at home Saturday at 3 p.m.

A brick wall

Shawnee goalie Jeremy Crichton had a huge hand in the Braves’ 2-1 stunner over Greenon last Wednesday. Crichton turned away 28 of the Knights’ 29 shots on goal.

What did he say

Some might wonder if Kenton Ridge dropping seven goals on North about 10 days ago was a fluke or a sign that the Panthers are going to have a long season. Fortunately for North soccer fans it was a fluke.

It turns out that North goalie Jose Campos was kicked in the head during the match, and team officials thought he didn’t want out of the game. It turns out he was trying to say he couldn’t see.

Campos, a newcomer from Mexico, was almost knocked unconscious and suffered blurred vision for about 20 minutes because of the hit, while the Cougars proceeded to score four unanswered goals.

Lemon can score

Southeastern’s Alison Lemon has had a fantastic start to the season with 11 goals, including three hat tricks in two weeks. The scoring output leads the area and has helped the Trojans to a 2-2 record. Read more about the Trojans in next week’s Soccer Insider.