Boys Soccer Preview: Episcopal hoping to build on Inter-Ac runner-up campaign
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 and Central League are already up; here’s the rest of Delco:
Episcopal Academy matured late last year to push for second place in the Inter-Ac in a 14-win campaign. Their big loss this year is somewhat unexpected, with two-time All-Delco goalie and Harvard commit Matt Freese playing for the Union Academy instead of the school.
Luckily, coach David Knox has a quality replacement in A.J. Marcucci, who has plenty of experience sharing time with Freese. Ramon Gallegos and Quinn Dudek comprise an attacking axis in midfield along with Johnny Cunningham. Senior Brandon Sheppard and juniors Spencer Higgins and Chris Bassett will help replace the contributions of the graduated Zach Viscusi.
Nick Wallick is the anchor on the backline, while sophomores Harrison Malone and Samuel Wilson add some kick to the midfield.
Bill Brady’s Haverford School team last fall graduated eight college players, a monstrously successful contingent that fueled the Fords’ four consecutive Inter-Ac titles. A fifth would require monumental growth from a young group that is talented but lacks varsity experience.
Defender Josh Ridenhour and midfielder Caleb Clothier are the veteran mainstays, while Will Baltrus returns for another season in goal as a junior. Sophomore forward Nick Pippis will be leaned on for goals, hopefully finishing chances generated by midfielders Parker Gravina and Will Micheletti.
Sophomore defender Griffin Wada is among several new faces tabbed to contribute.
Catholic League
Bonner & Prendergast needed a new coach when Jim Strandberg was promoted to become the school’s principal. That leaves the Friars in the hands of another alum in Tom Markopoulos, a 2008 graduate of Bonner who Strandberg hired as an assistant/freshman coach seven years ago.
After last year’s two-win campaign, Markopoulos inherits a solid senior class, led by forward Theo Ijeboi. Matt Hope, Charlie Miller and Bach Clifton will spearhead midfield, while Joe Nestel and sophomore Andrew Markopoulos (Tom’s younger brother) return with defensive experience in front of junior goalkeeper Tony Harper.
Juniors Matt Masseli and Kevin Glatts flesh out the midfield. Rich Gevin and Kyle Beaver will spell the defense, and sophomore PJ Tecco will offer a change of pace up top.
Mike McDevitt joins the long line of coaches at Cardinal O’Hara, but the Father Judge and Cabrini grad/former assistant is well acquainted with both Delco and the Catholic League.
McDevitt benefits from several players returning, particularly in midfield. Zack Hamilton and Charlie Sheehan form the central fulcrum, while Derrick Sacks and Calvin Rolland provide attacking options. Pat Wright supplies the veteran presence in defense, joined by Joe Paschos and Kevin Calamita.
Sophomore Martin Meenan and freshmen Owen Sheehan, Luke Signora and Jalen Hammond will find opportunities to play from the outset.
Ches-Mont
Last year was a rebuilding one for a youthful Sun Valley squad, but with its placement in Class 3A this year, coach Bob Chambers is hoping his 18th season at the helm will end in a playoff berth.
Four-year starter Jake Benz is among an eight-man senior class. Brendan Skwirut returns for another year in goal, with stalwart Owen Parente and newcomers Adam Revak, Jake McDonald, Ian Roland and Richie June making up the defense.
Joey Cairy, Zach Montgomery and Musab Muhammad are the prime targets on the forward line. Steve Shapiro, Evan Roland, Luciano Gutierrez and Silas Peterson will populate the Vanguards’ midfield.
Bicentennial
Rob Atkins returns for his fourth season at the helm of Delco Christian, where he’s built a nucleus of three seniors in Daniel Nichols, Cody Moorhatch and Jamie Fitzgerald. Brody Veleber returns in goal, while Tim Fitzgerald, Daniel Deger and Nick Daniel have varsity experience.
Adam Hamel and Nathan Corcimiglia could feature as freshmen.
The Christian Academy takes a stab at the Bicentennial League this season after qualifying for the District One playoffs last year in its first season back in the PIAA. They lose Brit Haseltine to graduate, but the majority of their squad is back from that 12-win campaign.
Jake Sitkowski and Brandon Rochester provide sizable presences in defense. Tyler Skaer and Anthony O’Brien will pull the strings in midfield, while Caleb Robinson will be called upon to finish goals up top.
Freshmen Grant Sareyka, a midfielder, and Jesse Brittain, a forward, could contribute from the outset.
