Our Crimson Knights

Knights enter new era as Scot Beattie takes over as head coach 

When Scot Beattie learned he would be taking over as head coach of the varsity soccer team at Salisbury this summer, he was filled with excitement. He quickly reflected on the coaches in his life who had made the biggest impact on him as a player—and now, in his tenth year on the Hilltop, he will have the opportunity to make that same impact. 

It won’t be easy for Coach Beattie in his first year, however. Salisbury competes in NEPSAC Class A, one of the strongest leagues in New England. With matchups against elite programs such as Taft, Loomis, and rival Berkshire, success this season will be measured in a variety of ways—especially off the pitch. From day one of his head coaching tenure, Beattie leaned on his assistant coaches, Collin Shapiro and Rodolfo Ruiz, to help create a slogan that would define the new era of Salisbury soccer. They ultimately chose "La Familia"—or "the family." 

Beattie firmly believes that a team’s strength on the field is only as good as its bond off it. And with a team that lost 14 players from last season (including 12 seniors), it is vital that these values be established. He has built on past traditions in the program while also introducing new ones this preseason. After the last practice of their grueling training sessions, Coach Beattie brought his team to the lake for a swim. While there, he announced the captains for the 2024 season: Will Judge ‘25 and Stanley Obeng Ansong ‘26. Not only will Judge and Obeng Ansong be tasked with leading a group of almost entirely new players, but they are also expected to be key contributors for the team. 

Beattie plans to rely on the whole squad to contribute this year. Key players in the defense include Elijah Han ‘27, Thomas Judge ‘25, and Will Judge. Obeng Ansong and Alvaro Mestre Sanchez ‘27 will be creators and X-factors in the midfield. Nick Hussar ‘25 and Marty Kenny ‘28 will be targets up top to put the ball in the back of the net. 

Other key contributors include Nash Barro ‘25, one of the few returners from last season’s squad, and midfielders Dario Guillen ‘26 and Charlie Merk ‘26, both known for their ability to make runs down the sidelines. A surprise standout is third-former Luca Stozinic ‘28, who impressed coaches during preseason. At goalkeeper, there is a competition between two strong players, Owen Hellman ‘26 and Karsten Wittnebert ‘26. 

With a young and developing team, Beattie plans to focus on fundamentals. Ball control, patience, and developing a high soccer IQ are central to his approach. While he acknowledges that immediate success may be difficult, he has already laid a strong foundation for the program. The varsity team is working closely with the junior varsity squad, with the goal of creating a feeder system in the years ahead. Beattie praised Coach Shabazz and Coach Moody for their outstanding leadership of the JV program. It won’t be an easy journey for Coach Beattie in his first year, but as a seasoned veteran of the game, he is ready for the challenge.