Berkshire balancing high standard, new puzzle in 2019

Berkshire coach Charlie Bour after last year's NEPSAC Class A title win. (Mike Gridley/New England Soccer Journal)

Berkshire head coach Charlie Bour has no problem calling it the “elephant in the room.”

After last year’s Class A title, the Bears’ fifth in seven years, how would the level stay so high? After all, the nation’s No. 1 prep program has lost high-end talent all over the field.

Nine months after beating Worcester Academy, 3-1, for their latest championship, winger Jacob Shaffelburg is a Homegrown Player for MLS side Toronto FC. Midfield centerpieces Ugo Achara and Nick Berghold are at Northwestern and Virginia, respectively. Goalkeeper Marco Saborio Perez is at North Carolina, where he’ll be joined by defender/midfielder Jonathan Sinclair after a postgraduate spell at Northwood. Center back Deng Deng Kur is also at Northwestern.