Area Boys’ Soccer Preview

Posted: March 12, 2015
By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — When you look at the talent and the sheer number of people that the Millbrook boys’ soccer team lost from last year’s team, it’d be understandable to think they’ll have a hard time matching last year’s success.

Matching last year’s success isn’t on the minds of the players though, according to Millbrook coach Keith Kilmer. The Pioneers see no reason why they shouldn’t be even better.

Millbrook won its first Northwestern District regular season title and earned its fourth straight regional tournament berth in 2014, but bowed out in the 4A North Region quarterfinals.

All six of the Pioneers All-Northwestern District selections were seniors last year, including the district’s and The Winchester Star’s Player of the Year in Shane Moyer (22 goals, 13 assists). Millbrook had nine seniors total on the team, and they accounted for 78 percent of the team’s scoring last year.

But Millbrook does return six players who either started all year or had extensive starting experience, and they’ve added some talented pieces for a team that the Pioneers hope not only is the best locally but one capable of making a run at a state berth.

“This team has tremendous respect for what last year’s team accomplished, and what those seniors accomplished during their careers,” Kilmer said. “But my goal is to always do better than you did the previous year, and these guys have been talking about that without me even saying anything to them. They’re a very determined team.”

With the junior trio of forwards David Myers (four goals, five assists, second team All-Conference 21 selection last year) and Brian McGuire (six goals, four assists) and midfielder Jonathan Richards (five goals, three assists), there’s plenty of scoring punch. And defensively, the Pioneers feature sophomore goalkeeper Chris Kozlowski (10 shutouts), returning starters and seniors Cal Lockley and Tyler Gray, and newcomer Matt Hershberger, a junior who returned to Frederick County after living in Germany for about seven or eight years and could be the team’s sweeper.

The Pioneers will have plenty of competition in the Northwestern District though, particularly from Sherando and Handley, both of which return almost all of their starters from last year.

The Warriors have one of the best one-two punches a team can ask for in All-4A North Region honorable mention selections and seniors Andrew Wade (11 goals, nine assists), a midfielder, and Tommy Buono (nine goals, five assists), a forward.

For Sherando coach Pat Anderson — whose teams always seem to be strong defensively — his big concern in the preseason has been making sure his defense continues to be a strength, especially because of the loss of all-district defender Andrew Mullan. Anderson said last week that he was considering moving senior Jov Hall, a skilled forward and midfielder who had three goals and three assists, to a center back position to fortify the unit.

After a year in which the Judges routinely lost close games, Handley coach Cosmo Balio said his team is hungry to atone for those defeats, and is much more prepared to finish the job in contests that are up in the air late. The Judges’ artificial turf has certainly helped them prepare for this year — while most teams were likely stuck indoors the first two weeks of preseason, the Judges shoveled off their field and got seven days of outdoor practice in.

Balio is particularly excited about what All-Conference 23 second team selection and senior forward Seth Bridgeforth (six goals, five assists) will do this year after making the state Olympic Development Program team. The Judges also feature All-4A North Region second team selection and senior midfielder Jay Fox (nine goals), All-Northwestern District second team selection and junior midfielder Jesus Trejo (eight assists) and All-4A North Region honorable mention defender and junior Joe Brink.

James Wood is coming off a season in which it won just two games, but with 14 returning players, nine of whom started, the Colonels have a lot of experience playing together.

New coach Brian Sullivan, who takes over after serving as an assistant coach the previous four years, expects a defense led by three-year starter and senior captain Chris Francis, an All-Northwestern District and Conference 21 selection, and junior goalkeeper Cole Morris (second team all-district), to be a strong point. Junior midfielder Colin Watts (second team all-district) returns after recording nine assists last year.

Clarke County had a strong defense last year but posted only 34 goals, and 13 of those were scored by the graduated Anthony Marasco. But the Eagles have eight returning starters who have grown as players in the past year, and Eagles coach Scott House believes the return of junior forward Daniel York — who missed last year because of injury — will provide a much-needed boost to the Eagles’ offense.

The following is a glance at each team:

Millbrook

Coach: Keith Kilmer, 6th year.

Last year: 14-5 (7-1 Northwestern District); Northwestern District champions; lost to Chancellor in the 4A North Region quarterfinals.

Key losses: Shane Moyer, Perry Roberson, Tyler Anderson, Esteban Melivilu, Santi Sanchez, Nick Kilmer, Nathan Burgreen, Austin Jones, Taylor James.

Top returning players: Chris Kozlowski, So. G; Tyler Gray, Sr. D; Cal Lockley, Sr. D; Rody Diyoka, Sr, M; Jonathan Richards, Jr. M; Hans Kloo, So. M; David Myers, So. F; Brian McGuire, Jr. F.

Key newcomers: Andres Torres, Sr. M; Matt Hershberger, Jr. D.

Kilmer’s outlook: “Matt Hershberger is 6-3 and built like Tyler Anderson, who was leading us in goals last year as a stopper until he got hurt. I can play Matt at any position on the field except goalie. He’s very disciplined defensively though, which is why we might put him at sweeper. Our goalkeeper Chris Kozlowski got a lot of experience last year, and after training with [former Sherando and George Mason University goalkeeper] Dustin Butcher in the offseason I’m expecting big things from him.”

Opening game: Tuesday at Broadway, 7:30 p.m.

Sherando

Coach: Pat Anderson, 22nd year

Last year: 12-5 (6-2 Northwestern District); lost to Loudoun County in Conference 21 semifinals.

Key losses: Austin Wernecke, Andrew Mullan.

Top returning players: Andrew Wade, Sr. M; Tommy Buono, Sr. F; Kevin Riley, Sr. G; Rhett Morris, Sr. D; Jake Adams, Sr. M; Seth Wade, So. M; Sean Buono, So. M; Nic Craig, So. M; Jack Flanagan, Jr. F; Drew Berman, Sr. F; Jov Hall, Sr. D; Nathan Pinto, Sr. M; Zach Wagner, Sr. D; Tanner Wernecke, Sr. M.

Key newcomers: Travis Ferraro, Jr. D; Max Polio, Fr. M.

Anderson’s outlook: “I think our experience should help us out a lot early in the season since we weren’t able to get outside for practice — we’ve got three games five days in the first week. The big thing is making sure we’re strong in the back. We’ve got Kevin Riley back at keeper, Rhett Morris is a strong defender, and Zach Wagner is really stepping up for us.”

Opening game: Tuesday vs. Briar Woods, 7 p.m.

Handley

Coach: Cosmo Balio, 10th year.

Last year: 7-10-1 (5-3 Northwestern District); lost to Charlottesville in Conference 23 semifinals.

Key losses: Michael Davis, Omar Trejo.

Top returning players: Jay Fox, Sr. M; Joe Brink, Jr. D; Jesus Trejo, Jr. M; Seth Bridgeforth, Sr. F; Cole Stevens, Sr. G; Nestor Castillo, Jr. M; Mason Au, Sr. D; Joe White, Sr. M; Hardel Santos, Jr. M/F; Rosser Sirbaugh, Jr. D; Norman Au, Jr. D; Saber Ali, So. M.

Key newcomers: Sergio Cruz, Sr. F (transfer from Loudoun Valley); Jorge Cruz, Jr. M (transfer from Loudoun Valley); Lucas Pantoja, Sr. M (transfer from Millbrook after starting with Handley); Bryan Gomez, Sr. M (transfer from James Wood after starting with Handley); Haniel Lopez, Jr. G; Chris Nerangis, Fr. M; Andrew McIntyre, Fr. D; Tyler Heglas, Fr. D; Nathan Langford, So. F.

Balio’s outlook: “I was telling my wife that I haven’t been this excited going into a season in two or three years. We’ve got a lot of depth, and I’d put our attacking seven right up there with Millbrook’s and Sherando’s. I’ve always put the emphasis on defense, but we’ll have more of an attacking style this year.”

Opening game: Tuesday at Freedom, 7:30 p.m.

James Wood

Coach: Brian Sullivan, 1st year.

Last year: 2-14-1 (2-6 Northwestern District); lost to Woodgrove in Conference 21 quarterfinals.

Key losses: Luke Farinholt, Daniel Schoeman.

Top returning players: Chris Francis, Sr. D; Aleg Hager, Jr. D; Cole Morris, Jr. G; Skyler Newlin, Jr. F; Colin Watts, Jr. M; Aidan Houser, So. M; Liam Ebert, So. M/F.

Key newcomers: None mentioned.

Sullivan’s outlook: “These guys are more comfortable with each other and have worked hard in the offseason, so hopefully we’ll stay more competitive in games. When you lose as many games as we did last year, you have to try something new, so we’ve switched a few people around to get a more offensive attack. Skyler Newlin has shown glimpses of being able to get the ball in the back of the net, as well as Aidan Houser and Liam Ebert. But we’ll just take the opportunities where they come.”

Opening game: Monday vs. Loudoun Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Clarke County

Coach: Scott House, 5th year.

Last year: 8-9-1 (7-8-1 Bull Run District); lost to Stonewall Jackson in Conference 35 semifinals.

Key losses: George Novakowski, Anthony Marasco, Danny O’Donnell.

Top returning players: Ian Dors, Jr. M; Isaak Weintz, Jr. M; Henry Leta, Jr. D; Keaton Leta, Jr. D; Charles Moore, Jr. M; Thomas Detwiler, Jr. M; Chase Fletcher, Jr. M; Jacob Peterson, Jr. M; Daniel York, Jr. F; Seth Mayo, So. G; Levi Mayo, Sr. D.

Key newcomers: Graham Smith, Jr. M; Robbie Moore, Fr. M; Gunder Perka, Jr. M; Blaise Guerin-Williams Jr. M; Brian Boag, Jr. D; Derek Locke, Jr. D; Luis Camacho-Bruno Fr. M/F; Trey Annis, So. F; Khalil Muomji, Sr. F.

House’s outlook: “I feel really good about this team. We’ve only got two seniors but we’ve got 15 juniors. A lot of guys are looking to build off the experience they had last year and step into leadership roles. With Daniel York and Ian Dors, who’s a great athlete, we should be able to generate more offense.”

Opening game: Monday vs. Mannassas Park, 7 p.m.

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow on Twitter @WinStarSports1