Boys soccer season preview capsules

Fox Valley Conference

Valley Division

Cary-Grove

Coach: Mark Olson, fifth season

Last season’s record: 12-4-0 overall, 8-2 FVC Valley (second)

Top returners: Erik Gustafson, jr., D; Robbie Perez, jr., D/MF; Michael Loke, jr., MF; Ryan Borys, sr., D; Evan Baker, sr., F; Aidan McCarthy, jr., F; Ricky Contreras, sr., F; Jacob Cunningham, sr., MF; Jon Guay, sr., MF/F

Key newcomers: Kyle Bostedt, sr., MF; Peter Fisher, sr., MF; Andy Matovina, jr., D/MF; Nolan Walsh, jr., MF; Justin Lowe, jr., D/MF; Eric Wilde, jr., MF; Dylan McDonough, jr., GK; Tom Breen, jr., GK; Michael McKune, so., MF

What to expect: The Trojans finished second in the FVC Valley last season with a group of talented sophomores and juniors that return this year. Olson said three seniors in particular have stepped into early leadership roles and have their eyes on the division title.

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Brian Allen, fourth season

Last season’s record: 19-4-2 overall, 9-1 FVC Valley (first)

Top returners: Dave Walsh, sr., GK; Matt Biederwolf, sr., D; Jacob Stock, sr., D; Adam Gatza, sr., D; Brian Karp, sr., D; Mike Hernandez, sr., MF; Trevor Bittenbender, sr., MF; Javas Singh, sr., MF; Alex Tapia, sr., F; Charlie Oliver, jr., F; Alex Allmandinger, jr., F; Alex Anderl, jr., D

Key newcomers: Sam Murdock, fr., MF; Alejandro Ruiz, jr., D; Devon Ross, jr., MF; Kai Volkhart, jr., MF; Brett Wielgos, jr., GK; Zack Sebastian, sr., MF/F; Miguel Loera, sr., F

What to expect: The Gators will be deep and talented, but Allen knows talent will only take his team so far. “Teamwork and an honest work rate every day in training and in games are going to be two keys to this team’s success,” Allen said.

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Rey Vargas, sixth season

Last season’s record: 7-13-2 overall, 2-8 FVC Valley (sixth)

Top returners: Scott Nowicke, sr., GK; Jimmy Griffin, sr., D; Mauricio Avellano, sr., D; Rigo Garcia, sr., D; Alex Garcia, jr., MF; Kyle Hagan, jr., MF/F; Juan Lopez, sr., F

Key newcomers: Adolfo Sandoval, jr., MF; Eduardo Avellano, fr., D; Louis Lopez, jr., MF

What to expect: The Chargers return a lot of talent from a roster that was rebuilding last year, and Vargas believes that strength-wise this team will be very competitive. “It’s just a matter of whether we jell together,” Vargas said. “If we don’t, we’re going to run the risk of having a season like we did last year, but we’ve got high hopes this season.”

Huntley

Coach: Kris Grabner, eighth season

Last season’s record: 9-12-2 overall, 3-7 FVC Valley (tied for fourth with McHenry)

Top returners: Kevin Montelongo, sr., GK; Dimitri Tsoukolous, sr., D; Eduardo Mejia, jr., MF; Mahi Islam, sr. Matt Heiden, sr.

Key newcomers: Niko Mihalopoulos, fr., Christian Ramos, fr., Scott Dorvilier, fr.

What to expect: The Red Raiders will try to establish themselves as one of the elite teams in the FVC Valley Division this season, and Montelongo is capable of leading the way. “We would like to be a competitive team in the Valley Division,” Grabner said. “A regional championship is a goal for this team.”

Jacobs

Coach: Anthony Cappello, first full season (Cappello took over the program in the middle of last season)

Last season’s record: 6-12-3 overall, 5-5 FVC Valley (third)

Top returners: Taylor Pignitaro, sr., MF; Ian Treacy, sr., F; Matt Ehrhardt, sr., D; A.J. Pfatschabacher, sr., GK

Key newcomers: Anthony Capobianco, sr., D

What to expect: Pignitaro, Treacy, Ehrhardt and Pfatschabacher are veteran players who guided the Golden Eagles for the past three seasons. Jacobs wasn’t pleased with its record last season, and teams in the FVC Valley should look for the Eagles to be dangerous.

McHenry

Coach: Tony Caruso, 13th season

Last season’s record: 8-12-2 overall, 3-7 FVC Valley (tied for fourth with Huntley)

Top returners: Carlos Wence, jr., GK; Mike Fitzgerald, sr., MF; Jorge Jimenez, sr., MF; Ulices Guarneros, jr., D; Dylan Clohessy, jr., F; Franco Rodgers, sr., F; Eric Long, sr., MF; Rey Esquivel, sr., MF

Key newcomer: Marco Tello, so., F

What to expect: “We are going to have to play very good defense to be competitive and score goals as a team,” Caruso said, “ ... [but] we have a good group of kids who work hard and have good attitudes.”

Fox Division

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Jay Schwarzrock, 10th season

Last season’s record: 15-6-1 overall, 9-3 FVC Fox (second)

Top returners: Sam Kruse, sr., F; Tyler Fehring, sr., MF; Scott Krollman, sr., D

Key newcomer: Jesus Ramirez, sr., D

What to expect: The Tigers were one of the best teams down the stretch last season and have a solid core of players returning, including Kruse and Fehring, who led the team in scoring. “If we can get some strong leadership from our returning players, we will be a tough team to beat,” Schwarzrock said.

Grayslake Central

Coach: Mike McCaulou, sixth season

Last season’s record: 4-11 overall, 4-6 FVC Fox (fourth)

Preseason information was not made available. When it is provided it will be posted on our Preps 24/7 blog on McHenry CountySports.com.

Grayslake North

Coach: Adam DeCaluwe, fifth season

Last season’s record: 6-15 overall, 4-8 FVC Fox (sixth)

Top returners: Chris Meyers, sr., MF; Claudio Guerrero, so., F/MF; Carson Klarck, so., MF; Arnaud Laroche-Bataille, so., MF; Michael Rohrer, so., D; Kip Wetter, jr., F/MF; Daniel Bazan, jr., D; Mark Lewis, jr., MF; Andrew Rohrer, sr., D; Richard Klarck, sr., GK

Key newcomers: Baruk Perez-Vera, so., F; Sintayehu Meyer, so., MF; Aleks Jovanovic, jr., D; Ibra Perez-Vera, jr., D; Cory Homan, sr., MF; Manny Martinez, sr., F; Sergio Mojica, sr., D; Ryan Retzke, sr., MF

What to expect: The Knights have been one of the more talented teams in the conference since their first varsity season four years ago, but they spent last season rebuilding after losing 12 players to graduation and transfers.

This season, that inexperienced team returns 10 players with at least one full year of varsity experience and could contend for the FVC Fox Division title.

Johnsburg

Coach: Rob Eastland, sixth season

Last season’s record: 13-7-2 overall, 9-3 FVC Fox (tied for second with Crystal Lake Central)

Top returners: Mike Dombrowski, sr., F; Robbie DeRosa, sr., GK; Eric Blackowicz, sr., D

Key newcomers: Caden Pruitt, so., MF; Jimmy Knackstedt, so., D; Alex Jansen, so., F; Daniel Landon, so., F; Brandon Ridout, jr., MF; Shane Waldron, so., F

What to expect: The Skyhawks lost 15 players from their roster last season, but had a strong JV program, and Eastland thinks they should be able to make the transition smoothly.

“We have a handful of seniors that have waited patiently for their opportunity, and we have a large, talented group of sophomores,” Eastland said. “... [We] just might surprise a few teams.”

Prairie Ridge

Coach: David O’Leary, 14th season

Last season’s record: 12-7-3 overall, 11-1 FVC Fox (first)

Top returners: Alex Polizzi, sr., MF; Kurt Schachtschneider, sr., D; Scott Truitt, sr., MF/F; Mac Curtis, sr., F/D; Alberto Ocampo, sr., F; Kurtis Stephan, jr., MF; Jon Zweibruck, jr., D; Nick Woodbury, so., D/GK; Gio Miranda, so., MF

Key newcomer: Lucas Rea, sr., D

What to expect: “We are low on experience,” O’Leary said, “but [we] have had a great start, and I really like the mix of players we have.” The Wolves lost eight players from last year’s team – seven to graduation and another opted to run cross country this fall.

Woodstock

Coach: Mike Golda, first season

Last season’s record: 9-13-0 overall, 5-7 FVC Fox (fifth)

Top returners: Rodolfo Carreon, sr., GK; Forrest Harvey, sr., D; Marco Ordoñez, sr., MF; Jonathan Talavera, jr., MF; Nate Connell, sr., F; Silmar Martinez, sr., F

Key newcomers: Chris Cadena, jr., D; Brian Dominguez, jr., MF; Sergio Herrera, so., MF/D; Carlos Vorana, so., MF; Cesar Gonzalez, so., MF

What to expect: Woodstock hasn’t won a regional since 1994 and with 13 seniors, six juniors and three sophomores on the roster, the Blue Streaks have enough experience to make a run at the FVC Fox Division title and go deep in the playoffs. Golda spent the past few years at Marian Central, where he took the Hurricanes to a Class 2A supersectional in 2008.

Woodstock North

Coach: Josh Iverson, first season
Last season’s record: 0-20 overall, 0-12 FVC Fox (seventh)

Top returners: Alex Niese, jr., MF; Christian Ortiz, jr., MF; Jose Albarran, so., MF; Marcos Campos, so., GK; Jordan Kepf, jr., F; David Bruchsaler, jr., D

Key newcomers: Aaron Jones, fr., MF; Victor Diaz, fr., D

What to expect: “To come out, play every game as hard as they can and develop individually and as a team,” Iverson said. “It’s a journey, so if there’s growth and achievement, if that comes out as wins or losses, if we have a more well-thought out game, that’s what I’m looking for from them this season. I’m looking for some kids to step up and make this team a high-level varsity team, sportsmanship, attitude, skill and probably teamwork.”

Big Northern Conference

East Division

Hampshire

Coach: John Gosling, third season

Last season’s record: 13-8-1 overall, 7-3 BNC East (third)

Top returners: Ismael Morales, jr., F; Marcus Quick, sr., GK; Jared Butler, jr., sweep

Key newcomer: Andrew Obmalay, jr., CMF

What to expect: “We had a talented freshman class two years ago and are expecting some leadership and production from everyone, especially the juniors and seniors,” Gosling said. “We have the most talent that we’ve had for the past couple years.

“We have to mesh that talent with some of the guys that don’t play at that top level. We’re not deep in numbers. Only taking 16 field players and two keepers.”

Harvard

Coach: David Abel, 10th season

Last season’s record: 17-4-2 overall, 9-1 BNC East (first)

Top returners: Rafael Juarez, sr., MF; David Martinez, sr., F; Brian Gonzalez, sr., D

Key newcomers: Jose Juarez, jr., D/MF; Humberto Martinez, jr., MF

What to expect: The Hornets have clinched a share of the BNC East Division title for the past three years, and expectations are high again this season despite the loss of a few key players.

“If they work hard and do the little things, success will come,” Abel said. “We lose players every year; it’s all about how the kids respond to those things and each year they have.”

Marengo

Coach: Jim McKinnon, second season

Last season’s record: 7-12-1 overall, 6-4 BNC East (fourth)

Top returners: Nick Radcliff, jr., DMF; Vinnie Vega, jr., DMF; Frolan Martinez, jr., OMF; Louis Romero, jr., CMF; Martin Romero, jr., CMF; Joel Garcia, so., FB; Austin Brettschneider, sr., sweep; Sergio Orosco, jr., GK/MF; James Simonson, sr., F; Miguel Resendez, sr., OMF

Key newcomer: Jessie Maya, sr., GK

What to expect: “We’re going to do much better than we did last season,” McKinnon said. “They’re a lot smarter, [I] am a lot smarter, and we weren’t an easy side to mark last year, but we’ll be even tougher this year.”

McKinnon coached club teams for years before coming to Marengo’s boys program last fall.

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Sina Vidic, second season

Last season’s record: 6-15-0 overall, 3-7 BNC East (fourth)

Top returners: Trey Schinkowski, sr., D; Wes Leggett, sr., MF; Joey Sanborn, so., MF; Zach Cemail, so., MF; Cody Freiberger, jr., MF

What to expect: The Rockets were not pleased with last season’s campaign and Vidic can tell it has made them hungry to challenge the top teams in the conference. “We have a lot of players with experience who are eager to play and shake [that] bad taste in their mouths,” Vidic said.

Suburban Christian

Conference

Marian Central

Coach: Kristian Rockall, first season

Last season’s record: 19-6-1 overall, 5-3 SCC (second)

Top returners: Filip Dyminski, sr., D; Zack Radwanski, sr., MF; Trevor Diedrich, jr., MF; Forrest Beck, sr., D

Key newcomers: Austin Sierakowski, so., F; Mike Pierce, so., MF; Mike Dougherty, so., D/MF

What to expect: The Hurricanes have won a regional title four of the past six years and won two sectionals during that time. Offensively, the ’Canes could miss the 2009 Northwest Herald Boys Soccer player of the year, forward Kyle Gust who scored more than 30 goals, but the returners have plenty of experience and should step into leadership roles quickly.

– Maureen Lynch
mlynch@nwherald.com