By Eric Frantz For the Dayton Daily News

KETTERING | At first glance Alter's sub .500 record (4-5) heading into Wednesday's game with Purcell Marian didn't look impressive. The fact that the Knights are ranked third in the Division II state coaches poll tells a different story.

Despite dropping four games in a row prior to beating Purcell, 8-0. Alter fell just one spot in the state poll this week, moving from second to third. According to coach Jason Balogh the movement and Alter's record aren't unusual.

"To be honest, it isn't abnormal due to the strength of the schedule we play," Balogh said. "We're playing all the big D-I catholic schools out of Cincinnati in our league and I try to make our non-conference schedule as hard as possible. Thirteen of the 16 teams we play this season are D-I."

Already committed to 10 league games as members of the GGCL, Alter stocked the rest of the schedule with local talents Fairmont, Chaminade-Julienne, Centerville and Tippecanoe. Oakwood is the Knights' only area D-II opponent. In addition, Alter opened the season against Cleveland heavyweight Strongsville, which is currently ranked second in the D-I state poll.

"I think people have realized that the league we play in is the best or one of the best soccer leagues in the state, and with us playing that caliber of a schedule over the years it's gained us some respect," Balogh said. "In my opinion, the state poll is great, but the bottom line is what you do in the tournament. And our main reason for the schedule outside the league is preparation for the tournament."

In Balogh's four years, the Knights have reached a state final (2001), regional final ('03) and regional semifinal ('04). Regular-season records have never been as impressive.

"Our record at the end of the year has never been a big deal," Balogh said. "I always say that if we're close to .500 that's a good season."

Youth will play a large part in the success of this campaign.

The Knights start eight sophomores and three juniors, including captains Carly Mygrants and Carrie Adkins. Two other underclassmen who were returning starters (Courtney Chihil and Ashley Cattran), were lost to ACL injuries before the season. Captain Melissa Weber is the lone senior.

Sophomore Ann Leschansky is Alter's leading goal scorer (four), while Mygrants tops the squad in assists (six). Sophomore Jen Hurtubise has excelled in the midfield.

"We have to be good at both offense and defense because with our schedule we're not going to score many points," Balogh said. "That means we can't give up many either and our defense has done a very good job so far. We've given up 10 goals in nine games which is about one per and to be doing that at this time of the year is very good."

Things won't get easier for Alter as the regular season ends. Monday the Knights host Hamilton Badin, the state's top-ranked D-II team, and the following Monday play Cincinnati St. Ursula, ranked third in D-I, at Dayton Christian. Games with Centerville, C-J, Cincinnati Mercy and Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame loom as well.

"The thing we preach to the kids is that you'd rather lose to a good team than beat a bad team," Balogh said. "We learn a lot about our kids and our character from the schedule we play."

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