Boys Soccer Preview: With former standouts on sidelines, Central League wide open
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. The Del Val League preview is already up; here’s the Central League:
Three Central League teams turn over the reins to new coaches this year, and two come with impressive playing pedigrees. Haverford turns to an alum in David Cassanelli, the 2007 Daily Times Boys Soccer Player of the Year. He continued his career at Duquesne University and has been a varsity assistant/JV coach for three seasons at Haverford.
He’s the third head coach since Cassanelli’s coach, the George Severini, was let go in 2010, and Cassanelli is hoping to restore the consistency lacking with the Fords in recent years.
Cassanelli inherits a high proportion of club players trying to build off a 6-9-3 season. Senior Josh Cunningham will anchor the defense with Connor Brown. The midfield will consist of Ibrahim Anmar, Chris Rioboli, Matt Billbrough and Will Gardner, while Marc Mays and Indie Zimmerman offer an attacking punch.
Senior Nick DeFeo will take over in goal. Sean Cannon and Sean Morse are attacking options, while Keilan Barber and Wilson Dodds should feature in defense.
Upper Darby struggled through a 6-12 campaign, but they turn to alum Adam Edgar, who’s been an assistant in the program for four years. He’ll lean on a quartet of seniors, including midfielders Daniel Willie and Oscar Ceron, to power the team. Mohamed Camara will do much of the finishing up top with junior Chris Anderson, and senior Scott Devlin will again anchor the defense. Junior midfielder Sahr Pessima should also contribute.
Marple Newtown has a new coach in former Temple standout Jared Harris. After Charlie Dodds, who moved back to West Chester East, navigated the Tigers to the postseason, Harris must replace almost the entirety of a last fall’s senior-laden bunch, a handful of whom are playing in college.
Garnet Valley surprised some by making a run to the postseason last year, and they return several key pieces from that campaign. Seniors Matt Moore, Danny Sweeney and Jacob Schwien will impart a veteran air, while Andrew Weir and Michael Buchy will try to reprise their prominent attacking roles.
Striker and Loyola Maryland commit Sam Brown has dealt with injuries in the past, but the striker is ready for his final go with Penncrest. He helps constitute a strong spine to the team, which includes central midfielder Shea Morgan and Freddie Potts, while younger brother Max Brown will inspire the midfield.
Coach Paul Norris is high on freshman striker Nate Rodgers to continue the long tradition of young impact players for the Lions.
Perennial playoff contender Radnor again builds by being strong up the middle, with goalkeeper Ben Toomey, center back Cal Congleton and central midfielder Andrew Boujoukos. Jack Miller will lead the forward line.
Youngsters will fill in the rest of the defense, while seniors Miles Maesaka and Jordan Lian should add creative muscle to midfield.
Strath Haven was among the teams hit hard by graduation, but Ryan O’Neill always manages to integrate new faces. Harrison Hotham improved as the season wore on, and Josh Mason provides a speedy punch to the forward corps. Joe Shiiba, Justin Snyder and Jeremy Baker are the other returnees for the Panthers, who won 10 games and made the postseason.
Gavin Burch and lacrosse standout Will Huestis could also have an impact this season.
Ridley won one game a season ago, and is faced with a young team hoping to leave that in the past. Kyran Baker, just a junior, serves as the team captain in defense. Classmate Brendan Higgins and Benjamin Holder, one of the few seniors on the roster, are the other significant returnees.
Juniors Kevin Ormsby and Gabriel Elbasani are slated to earn time, while Keah Tobey and Nick Wolhafe are two of four freshmen who made varsity. Sophomore goalkeeper Michael Sheridan will have the responsibility between the posts.
