Boys Soccer Preview: Lopez chases history as Interboro aims for redemption

We’ll be posting team-by-team preview capsules for all the Daily Times soccer teams all this week, in addition to the preview feature on the rebuilding effort for defending state semifinalist Springfield and the ramifications of the classification shuffle. First up is the Del Val League: 

Interboro returns the defending league MVP in Diego Lopez, who is five goals shy of breaking the Bucs’ school record for career goals. He enters his junior campaign with 48 markers.

A hefty share of last year’s team, which went 12-6 put missed the postseason by mere percentage points, is back. Guillermo and German Ramirez are among the midfield stars ,while Dom Scrivano, Josh Little, Vinny Mormando, Joey Pitts and Brian Barker also saw significant minutes last year. Brandon Welden is back for another season in goal.

Newcomers John Ameyaw, Noah Kelly, Ozzie Carbajal and Dylan Longale will bolster the Bucs numbers.

The return of leading scorer Harun Abudlliah, four senior captains and a sizeable freshman class has Chichester coach Paul Amand optimistic about improving on his four-win debut season.

Matt Dwyer, Dylan Cordingly, Eric Evangellista and Tom Baney comprise the senior contingent.

The attacking combination of Lansana Doumbouya and Owen Ede is preserved for Academy Park, hoping to edge it up into the Del Val title conversation that has lately been monopolized by Penn Wood and Interboro. Doumbouya, a junior midfielder, and Ede, a senior forward, were both first-team all-league picks a season ago.

Sophomore midfielder Daniel Pitt has a chance to carve out a niche this year.

Penn Wood pivots away from coach Ed Kramer, who resigned after a long and successful stint at the school. Al Poplawski, who teaches in the district and coaches softball at Merion Mercy Academy, takes over.