Boys soccer teams look to heat up this week

Can District One produce another contender for a PIAA title as Central Bucks East so impressively captured a season ago?
Can the Suburban One League continue its strong postseason play?
Can Lansdale Catholic continue its strong play in the Philadelphia Catholic League despite being one of the circuit’s smaller schools?
How about the Pioneer Athletic Conferences’ newest entries, Norristown and Upper Merion?
Can anybody unseat New Hope in the Bicentennial League?
This rundown won’t provide all the answers, but it will, at least, provide a brief look at the area when it comes to the real “football” season ahead.
ABINGTON
2015 Record: 16-5 (10-4, SOL National Champions)
Head Coach: Randy Garber
Key Losses: Matt Bachman; Aiden Coyle; Jason Gales.
Key Returnees: Juan Castillo
Ghost of a Chance: While the Ghosts were creamed by graduation, they have plenty of faces back that saw what a team can do when it works together. Give this club some time and it may be able to grasp the concept that the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.
Outlook: With virtually an entirely new team, it may take the Ghosts some time to gel. But if they can continue that all-for-one mentality, they could make a run at a playoff berth.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST
2015 Record: 13-7-0 (8-6-0 SOL Continental)
Head Coach: Stefan Szygiel
Key Losses: Brady Boylan (D); Joel Acaster (M); Brandon Morris (F); Sam Winderman.
Key Returnees: Marcos Urffer; Dylan Smith (GK); Nick Doyle; August Meyer.
If it looks like a Buck and Sounds like a Buck: The Bucks were not devastated by graduation, and actually appear pretty strong through the midfield. They will, however, take a relatively inexperienced group of reserves from a season ago to take this side where it will eventually wind up. The Bucks defense was strong a year ago and will likely decide just how far this team can go.
Outlook: With CB East possibly taking a step backwards, the Bucks could contend for an SOL Continental crown and a long postseason run.
CHELTENHAM
2015 Record: 7-9-1 (6-7-1 SOL American)
Head Coach: Chuck Gesing
Key Losses: Nick Zpragen; El Tomasic
Key Returnees: Jake Rucket; RJ Magalhanas.
If a Black Cat Should Cross your Path: The Panthers keep running into that ceiling above that is between them and the three SOL American perennials, Upper Dublin, Plymouth Whitemarsh and Wissahickon.
There’s enough experience for Cheltenham to bust through that ceiling, but unfortunately the three clubs above them show fewer deficiencies.
Outlook: Cheltenham will have to keep plugging and hope they get some help.
HATBORO-HORSHAM
2015 Record: 7-11-0 (5-9-0 SOL Continental)
Coach: Kyle McGrath
Key Losses: Alex Hoffman (D); Sean Rich (D).
Key Returnees: Colin Bateman (M); Joe LaRouche.
Mad as a Hatter: Hatboro-Horsham is still looking to crack the oh-so-tough SOL hierarchy of the C.B.s and North Penn, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any easier. The club has a strong goal scorer back in LaRouche and a relatively strong midfield led by Bateman, so this might be one of those years for a strong push.
Outlook: While it’s unlikely the Hatters can break on through, they remain optimistic about their chances. Sometimes all it takes is a key break or an injury to make a little headway.
NORTH PENN
2015 Record: 14-5-2 (9-3-2 SOL Continental)
Coach: Paul Duddy
Key Losses: Colin Jerome; Jordan Katz; Liam Parker; Kyle Shue.
Key Returnees: Mike Kohler (M); Noah Kwortnik (D); Bobby Dean (GK).
In the Dead of Knight: North Penn was eased out of the district quarterfinals last year by CB East as the Patriots were en route to a state title. Is that noise we hear opportunity knocking on the door for the Knights this year?
Outlook: With a strong core returning, North Penn could make a deep playoff run. But if injuries strike, the Knights are not the deepest side in the district and have a few defensive flaws to shore up.
PENNRIDGE
2015 Record: 12-8-0 (7-7-0 SOL Continental)
Coach: Pete Valimont
Key Losses: Cameron Sheva (MF); Dylan Henry (F); Cayce Giblin.
Key Returnees: Matt Stevenson (F); Kevin Estep (D).
Don’t Slam the Ram: Pennridge is another quality side that suffers from playing in the SOL Continental. This year, look for quality forward Matt Stevenson, one of only two freshmen to be named to the All-Suburban One Continental team a year ago, to blossom into one of the league’s top netfillers, while the Rams try to fit somewhere in among the conference powerhouses.
Outlook: Question: Hey, Mr. Eight Ball, is this the year the Rams take the next step toward conference respectability? Answer: It seems likely.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH
2015 Record: 11-4-2 (9-3-2 SOL American)
Coach: Devon Landgraff
Key Losses: Austin Betterly; Skyler Goldstein.
Key Returnees: Dillon Johnson; Gavin Hendrick; Tyler Goldman.
P-Double-Whew: The Colonials look positively primed to make a dent in the SOL American standings. There’s the mix of veteran quality and youthful promise that seems to be the hallmark for all successful programs at this level. Defender Dillon Johnson is a beast, and the addition of returnees Hendrick and Goldman make the Colonials a potential handful.
Outlook: PW seems to be flourishing with a simple, hard-working, no-frills work ethic. Is it good enough to push the club deep into the playoffs? Only time will tell.
SOUDERTON
2015 Record: 2-15-1 (2-11-1 SOL Continental)
Coach: Matthew Benner
Key Losses: Nate Verso (M); John O’Keefe (F).
Key Returnees: Nick Marculo; Cameron Hart (D); Luis Lorellana (F); Dylan Molyneaux (M)
Big Red and Getting Redder: Souderton took its lumps last year, but the Indians did it with a mostly young squad that is now sitting on, at least, a year’s experience. Benner is hopeful that experience will translate into success this season.
Outlook: “Last year was difficult, but it was a rebuilding year,” Benner said. “We get back just about everybody, and if things go right we could contend for a playoff spot.”
SPRINGFIELD
2015 Record: 2-15-0 (1-13-0 SOL American)
Coach: Dan Meder
Key Losses: Corey Cuttone
Key Returnees: Trevor McCaffrey; Zach Harley; Mike Bonacci
Are They Fightin’ or Just Spartan: Like Souderton in the Continental, Springfield got beat up in the American Conference a season ago, but did so with a very young team that could be set to grow up in a hurry. Players like McCaffrey and Harley had huge roles on last year’s side and may be ready for a little revenge this year.
Outlook: Springfield isn’t going to win the SOL American, but it could win a few more matches than a year ago, and with an athletic program that just had to fold its football team for this year, the Spartans could bring a smile or two to some sports fans who are looking for a reason to feel good.
UPPER DUBLIN
2015 Record: 14-5-1, 12-2-0 (first SOL American)
Coach: Derek Priest
Key Losses: Jake Woodruff; Kevin Hoxha; Nick Browndorf.
Key Returnees: Jake Chin; Jesse Palomaque.
Pick a Cardinal, Any Cardinal: The Cardinals’ turnaround season of a year ago may just be the start of a long run of success. Upper Dublin lost in the second round of districts a year ago, but did so with a deep team, and many of those depth players are back this year as full-timers.
Outlook: The Cardinals should, again, contend for an SOL American title. How far they go after that will depend on just how far last season’s depth players have progressed.
WILLIAM TENNENT
2015 Record: 9-8-0 (7-7-0 SOL National)
Coach: Ryan Todt
Key Losses: Conner Weiss; Steve Orliw; Steve Testa; Eric Melio.
Key Returnees: Mike Albers.
Tennent-ively Speaking: A year ago, the Panthers were eliminated from district playoff contention in the final regular-season match – a match against Pennsbury they played without an injured Conner Weiss – with predictable results.
That gives Tennent motivation for this year, and the Panthers seem motivated. A match against cross-town rival Archbishop Wood gets the season underway Sept. 2.
Outlook: The Panthers will go as far as their young core will take them. If that means going down to the final match of the season once more, Tennent hopes to be up to the challenge.
WISSAHICKON
2015 Record: 11-6-0 (11-3-0 SOL American)
Coach: Stuart Malcolm
Key Losses: Alex Escude; Darien Williams; Aidan Conway.
Key Returnees: Tom McHale; Brad Schwartz (GK); Jacob Kaffey.
Wissa-Wonderin’: The Trojans came up short in both meetings with eventual SOL American champs Upper Dublin, and that’s something they can’t have happen again. With a number of valuable returning players, the Trojans should, once again, be in the title mix.
Outlook: Wissahickon has the conference’s best keeper returning in Schwartz, along with a strong midfield. Everything would seem to be in place for another run at SOL glory.
UPPER MERION
2015 Record: 7-8-2 (6-6-2 SOL American)
Coach: Tom Dodds
Key Losses: Abdu Bakillah; Brendan Magdamo; Ben Tirjan (GK).
Key Returnees: Alan Castillo; Tom Bielgalski; Trevor Looby.
Merion for Money: After a few years struggling, the Vikings made inroads in the SOL American standings a year ago. Can that momentum carry over into the PAC? That’s something that only time will tell. But Upper Merion does have a pretty strong young base on which to build. Sophomore Trevor Looby is a star in the making.
Outlook: If all things go well, the Vikings could contend in the PAC, although they’ll need max contributions from players like Castillo and Looby.
NORRISTOWN
2015 Record: 5-13-0 (3-11-0 SOL American)
Coach: Jared Elias
Key Losses: Jimmy Perkins; Brendan Kelly; Enrique Escobedo
Key Returnees: Johan Navarrette-Geronimo
Eagle Eyes: On the plus side, Norristown made a strong push a season ago and found its way out of SOL obscurity, although the task now is to stay out of obscurity. Several key players were lost to graduation and morale must be kept high.
Outlook: Don’t expect the Eagles to start knocking heads successfully with the Boyertowns, Spring-Fords, Pottsgroves and Perkiomen Valleys of the PAC, but they can hang with a couple of sides, and those are the matches they must win.
LANSDALE CATHOLIC
2015 Record: 11-7-3 (6-2-3 PCL; District 12 Champions)
Coach: Joe Wilson
Key Losses: Ryan Magarity.
Key Returnees: Jack Kane (GK); Noah Saba (F); Matt Noti (D).
Crusadin’ Rabbits: The Crusaders keep confounding the PCL elite like Judge and La Salle by holding their own in league play and then going on to win district titles – three in a row, if you’re counting, But it’s that pounding against the PCL big boys that force Coach Wilson to keep extra varsity players and be wary of any long-lasting injuries.
“We’re a small AA school that has to play the majority of its league schedule against AAA and AAAA programs,” Wilson said. “This year’s team has 12 seniors, 11 juniors and eight sophomores. We need that many players because of the pounding we take, but this is a good group. They don’t complain, they just go out and have fun.”
Outlook: Once again, the Crusaders will play David to the PCL’s Goliaths, and they’ll miss Magarity, a three-year starter who was one of the team pillars. But don’t expect LC to be anywhere but in the mix atop the PCL standings once again.
LA SALLE
2015 Record: 12-5-3 (7-3-1 PCL)
Coach: Tom McCaffrey
Key Losses: Alex D’Angelo; Chris Higginson
Key Returnees: Spencer Patton; Jimmy Natale
Soarin’ and Explorin: How do you replace 28 years, 402 wins and seven Philadelphia Catholic League championships? The Explorers are about to find out as Tom McCaffrey, a team assistant for the past 10 years, steps into the fray to replace the legendary Bob Peffle, who retired after a coaching career that helped keep La Salle on the area soccer map in a big way.
McCaffrey inherits a team with a true star in Patton and enough coming back that it should be back in contention for another PCL title.
Outlook: Yes, La Salle is capable of winning another PCL soccer crown, but there are no certainties at this level. For proof, check out last year’s title game.
CHRISTOPHER DOCK
2015 Record: 12-8-0 (8-5-0, 1st, Bicentennial Presidents Conference)
Coach: Matt Moyer
Key Losses: Sergey Curtis (Conference MVP); Jesse Kolb; Tyler Rice; Darren Souder
Key Returnees: Andrew Walters; Brian Miller; Austin Kratz.
Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay: The Pioneers keep succeeding, but keep wanting more. And the more is the District One championship. Instead, they keep running into New Hope, and the Firebirds have just been too much to handle of late. Dock supporters point to last season’s district playoff game and bring up that Austin Kratz didn’t play due to injury and that Sergey Curtis was hampered by a head cut. But the realists accurately point out that the Pioneers still lost by four goals, not exactly a close game. Can Dock’s fortunes change this season? There is a chance, especially with a strong nucleus returning. But New Hope has a way of offering no hope to its opponents.
Outlook: Curtis will be hard to replace, but Moyer is confident his charges have enough to, once again, be in a position to, at least, challenge the Firebirds again.