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Sunday, September 01, 1996     Page:

High School Boys Soccer preview
   
1. Coughlin
    1995 WVC Record:
   
11-5-0
   
Goals for/against:
   
58/35
   
Coach: Barry Trievel
   
Home field:
   
The Bog
   
Players to watch:
   
Matthew Hunter, K, Sr.; Michael Langdon, FB, Sr.; Chris Yanaitis, FB, Sr.;
Dominic Berrini, FB, Jr.; David DePolo, FB, Jr.; P.J. Murphy, FB, Jr.; Chin
Orih, MF, Jr.; Ed Pestoski, MF, Jr.; Dan Evanofski, Fwd/MF, Sr.; Ray Kuhl,
Fwd, Sr.; Gene Burke, Fwd/MF, Jr.; Sean Jones, Fwd, Jr.; Ray Walsh, Fwd, Jr.;
Charles Evanofski, Fwd, So.; Matt Trievel, Fwd, So.
   
Team strength:
   
Speed, experience
   
Team weakness:
   
Continuity
   
Outlook:
   
Coughlin appears to be the team to beat with two-time all-state player Orih
(17 g, 7 a), Burke (14 g, 11 a), Jones (8 g, 3 a), and Dan Evanofski (9 g, 5
a) giving the team a tremendous offensive attack. The defense also is in great
shape with Hunter, Langdon, Yanaitis, and Berrini returning. If the Crusaders
learn to play better team soccer, the title is theirs.
   
2. Valley West
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
8-8-0
   
Goals for/against:
   
38/28
   
Coach:
   
Ted Tsioles
   
Home field:
   
Football stadium
   
Players to watch:
   
Tim Roche, K, Jr.; Matt Stittzer, FB, Sr.; Tony Waskevich, FB, Jr.; Tim
Butch, FB, Jr.; John Fronzoni, FB, Jr.; Guilherme Lopes, FB, Jr.; Tony
Andario, MF, Sr.; Jeff Carle, MF, Sr.; Doug Hurley, MF, Sr.; Danny Slotek, MF,
Jr.; Conrado Valente, MF, Jr.; Adam Yurcho, MF, Jr.; Karl Kerr, Fwd, Sr.; Joe
Yurcho, Fwd, Sr.; Jason Engle, Fwd, Jr.; Aaron Littzi, Fwd, Jr.
   
Team strength:
   
Fullbacks, midfield
   
Team weakness:
   
Scoring balance
   
Outlook:
   
Valley West has a good shot at the title if it can find some offensive
players to go along with Kerr (12 g, 8 a) and Carle (7 g, 6 a). The Spartans’
defense should be as solid as ever. The defense posted only two shutouts last
year, but gave up one goal just seven times. The Spartans were 8-1 in the
those games, and should follow the same pattern to a successful season.
   
3. Bishop Hoban
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
12-2-2
   
Goals for/against:
   
42/19
   
Coach:
   
Frank Chadwick
   
Home field:
   
Coal Street Park
   
Players to watch:
   
Brian Franks, K, Sr.; Paul Shea, K, Jr.; D.C. Beckerman, FB, Sr.; Corey
O’Brien, FB, Sr.; Pat Scott, FB, Sr.; Mike Gluhanick, FB, Jr.; John
Fitzmaurice, MF, Sr.; T.J. Gallagher, MF, Sr.; Ben Hernandez, MF, Sr.; Ray
Kruk, MF, Jr.; Eric Hannon, MF/FB, Jr.; Matt Colburn, Fwd, Sr.; Chris Rutt,
Fwd, Sr.; Marco Angeli, Fwd, Jr.; Rodrigo Correa, Fwd, Jr.
   
Team strength:
   
Senior leadership, speed
   
Team weakness:
   
Finishing
   
Outlook:
   
Once again, Hoban is a legitimate contender despite losing some key players
to graduation. The Argents appear solid at every position, but could use some
more scoring punch. Rutt (3 g, 7 a) is the top returning scorer. Defensively,
Beckerman and Scott will help form a strong fullback line. Definitely will
finish in the top half of the division.
   
4. Abington
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
14-1-1
   
Goals for/against:
   
47/15
   
Coach:
   
Melissa Weber
   
Home field:
   
Football stadium
   
Players to watch:
   
Phillip Prall, K, Jr.; Jack Cozart, FB, Jr.; Jamie Dapsis, FB, Jr.; Craig
Jubinski, FB, Jr.; Jon Jones, FB, So.; Jim Kane, MF, Jr.; Jonathan Townes, MF,
Jr.; Matt Vereb, MF, Jr.; Drew Watkins, Fwd, Sr.; Jeremy Krafchis, Fwd, Jr.;
Josh Herlands, Fwd, So.; Dusty Scheuch, Fwd, So.
   
Team strength:
   
Speed
   
Team weakness:
   
Depth defensively
   
Outlook:
   
The Comets, the only Lackawanna County team that opted to stay in the WVC,
lost 10 starters to graduation, making this season an interesting one. Vereb
(1 g, 1 a) is the only returner who scored in varsity play. Still, there is
enough talent to keep Abington among the elite. Appears a lock for district
play.
   
5. Meyers
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
12-3-1
   
Goals for/against:
   
57/26
   
Coach:
   
Ray Joseph
   
Home field:
   
Barney Farms
   
Players to watch:
   
Rich Birkenhead, K, Jr.; Mel Shaw, FB, Sr.; James Tweedy, FB, Sr.; Brandon
Walker, FB, Jr.; George Wilson, FB, So.; Brad Joseph, MF, Sr.; Charlie Krape,
MF, Jr.; Brad O’Connor, MF, Jr.; Moses Ngolo, Fwd, Sr.; Otis DeLucca, Fwd,
Jr.; Christian Morrales, Fwd.
   
Team strength:
   
Experienced midfield, forwards
   
Team weakness:
   
Inexperienced fullbacks
   
Outlook:
   
Meyers is one of those teams that can finish very high or very low. In all
likelihood, the Mohawks will finish in the middle of the pack. Ngolo (14 g, 6
a), Joseph (8 g, 5 a), and Morrales (7 g, 1 a) give the team scoring threats,
but the defense must come around. Only Birkenhead and Shaw are returning
starters.
   
6. Seminary
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
7-6-3
   
Goals for/against:
   
28/26
   
Coach:
   
Paul Burg
   
Home field:
   
Payne-Pettibone Field, Wyoming
   
Players to watch:
   
Rob Pomento, K, Jr.; Tony Agati, FB, Sr.; John Harding, FB, Sr.; Randy
Lawrence, FB, So.; Mike Fancek FB, Fr.; Adam Brownold, MF, Jr.; Chris Wielage,
MF, Jr.; Steve Swatkoski, MF, So.; Tripp Graham, MF, So.; Cory Rudzinski, Fwd,
Sr.; Dave Wallace, Fwd, Sr.; Kasey Wallace, Fwd, Sr.; Mike Nardone, Fwd, Fr.
   
Team strength:
   
Goalkeeping
   
Team weakness:
   
Inexperience
   
Outlook:
   
A four-game winning streak to end last season put Seminary in the playoffs.
The Blue Knights won those games with defense, and that should be their strong
point with Pomento, Agati, and Harding leading the way. Offensively, Rudzinski
(2 g, 3 a) is the only returner who scored. If the offense comes around,
Seminary could make a run at the top spot.
   
7. Crestwood
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
7-9-0
   
Goals for/against:
   
28/28
   
Coach:
   
Nino Campagna
   
Home field:
   
High school
   
Players to watch:
   
Ryan McKenna, K, Jr.; Chris Louvet, FB, Sr.; Shaun Partington, FB, Sr.;
Mark Holowka, FB, Jr.; Steve Murphy, FB, So.; Keith Vanderbort, FB, Jr.; Kevin
Knecht, MF, Sr.; Brian Nallon, MF/FB, Sr.; Stanley Ruda, MF, Sr.; Dave
Compton, MF, Jr.; Rick Doninetz, MF, So.; Tom Baron, Fwd, Sr.; Mark Furedi,
Fwd. Jr.; Jim Simonelli, Fwd, So.
   
Team strength:
   
Senior leadership
   
Team weakness:
   
Inexperience
   
Outlook:
   
The Comets could be the surprise team this season if everything falls in
place. If not, they will probably end up under .500. The talent is there, but
the experience isn’t. However, with seniors such as Baron, Compton, Knecht,
Louvet, and Ruda (2 g, 3 a), Crestwood could make a run at the title if it
plays better in games decided by one goal. Last season, the Comets were 2-6 in
those games.
   
8. Lake-Lehman
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
6-8-2
   
Goals for/against:
   
25/27
   
Coach:
   
Mark Stroney
   
Home field:
   
High school
   
Players to watch:
   
Nathan Pankratz, K, Jr.; Russ Mosier, K, Fr.; Brad Dieffenbacher, FB, Sr.;
Mark Steele, FB, Jr.; Dan Dulebohn, MF, Jr.; Eric Rittenhouse, MF, Jr.; Fabio,
Fwd/MF, Sr.; Russ Wienrich, Fwd, So.; Andrew Verdikal, Fwd, So.
   
Team strength:
   
Goalkeeping, defense
   
Team weakness:
   
Scoring
   
Outlook:
   
Lehman won’t have the size to outmuscle teams like last year, but do return
a good core group to build around. Scoring could be a problem since
Rittenhouse (3 g, 2 a) and Steele (2 g, 2 a) are the top scorers returning.
The defense will need to keep the Black Knights in game early on until the
talented, but untested underclassmen mature.
   
9. Dallas
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
5-10-1
   
Goals for/against:
   
18/34
   
Coach:
   
John McCafferty
   
Home field:
   
High school
   
Players to watch:
   
John Fagan, K, Jr.; Neil Dymond, K, So.; Devon Michael, FB, Sr.; Frank
Velde, FB, Jr.; Eric George, FB, So.; Sean Kileen, FB, So.; Duane Sparau, FB,
So.; John Zimniski, FB, So.; Justin Kerr, MF, Sr.; Rich Douglas, Fwd, Jr.;
Kevin Pizzano, MF, Jr.; Mike Cleary, MF, So.; John Kertesz, MF, So.; Matt
Kertesz, MF, So.; Mike McHale, MF, So.; Mitch Bailey, Fwd, Sr.; Justin Hoover,
Fwd, So.; Rich Semanis, Fwd, So.
   
Team strength:
   
Depth
   
Team weakness:
   
Inexperience
   
Outlook:
   
Dallas will be looking to return to the WVC elite under McCafferty, who
returns as coach after a two-year absence. It might not happen this season
because the team will be relying mainly on underclassmen. However, don’t count
the Mountaineers out. With Bailey (3 g, 2 a) and Cleary (3 g, 3 a) leading the
offense, expect a much-improved team.
   
10. Hazleton Area
   
1995 WVC Record:
   
16-0-0
   
Goals for/against:
   
113/16
   
Coach:
   
Bill Dougherty
   
Home field:
   
Behind cemetery near high school
   
Players to watch:
   
Justin Nork, K, Sr.; Brian Stecker, K, Sr.; Dan Heckman, FB, Sr.; Corey
Shalanski, FB, Sr.; Justin Marshal, FB, Jr.; Calvin Mahoski, FB, So.; Florin
Anton, MF, Sr.; Sam Franzosa, MF, Sr.; Adam Jackson, MF, Sr.; Tilman Boller,
MF, Jr.; Kevin Hearne, MF, Jr.; David Harris, Fwd, Sr.; Sergio Bircea, Fwd,
So.; Johan Luperdi, Fwd, Fr.
   
Team strength:
   
Experienced senior class
   
Team weakness:
   
Untested goalkeeping
   
Outlook:
   
After dominating Division II for two seasons, Hazleton Area moved up to
Division I. That has spelled trouble in the past for other teams, and the
Cougars will may experience a similar fate, especially after losing Division
II MVP Mark Sutherland and Alin Anton. However, they are progressing very well
and have better overall depth and balance. That might make the transition an
easier one.