Boys soccer preview: Capsules for all area spring leagues
Greater Spokane League
Central Valley
Coach: Andres Monrroy, 11th season
2018 record: 6-2-0-1, fourth place
Starters graduated/returning: unavailable
Key departures: MF Devin Hauenstein (GSL offensive MVP), F Connor Wold (All-GSL 1st team).
Key returners: MF Nikita Susin, jr., (All-GSL 2nd team), D Josh Hermes, jr.
Key newcomers: unavailable
Outlook: A string of four straight state trophies ended last season with a loss in the district tournament.
Ferris
Coach: Robin Crain, 22nd season
2018 record: 8-1-0-0, tied first
Starters graduated/returning: 4/7
Key departures: D Ty Spink (All-GSL 1st team), MF Landon Butler (All-GSL 1st team), MF Evan Giem (All-GSL hon. mention), MF Alex Holmes (All-GSL hon. mention).
Key returners: GK Jadon Bowden, jr., (All-GSL 1st team), MF Caden Martin, jr., (All-GSL 1st team), D Nathan Owen, sr., (All-GSL hon. mention), MF Alessandro Contos, sr.
Key newcomers: unavailable
Outlook: “We have 11 seniors with good experience,” Crain said. “It’s a veteran team with 14 lettermen returning. We will need to stay healthy.”
Gonzaga Prep
Coach: Johnny Bartich, first season
2018 record: 6-2-1-0, third
Starters graduated/returning: 8/3
Key departures: GK Isaiah Damschen (GSL defensive MVP), MF Luke Barbieri (All-GSL hon. mention).
Key returners: D Artem Yushkevich, jr., (All-GSL 1st team), F Parker Manthei, sr.
Key newcomers: MF Tyler Timperman, sr., MF Christopher Peretti, soph.
Outlook: “The team is young,” Bartich said. “But they are all smart, intelligent players who can’t get enough soccer.” The goalkeeper is a freshman and the Bullpups are replacing both center backs.
Lewis and Clark
Coach: Mica Lamb, eighth season
2018 record: 8-1-0-0, tied first
Starters graduated/returning: 7/3
Key departures: All-GSL performers Jared Mehaffey, Bryan Maxwell and Zak Deutschman
Key returners: MF Eli Armstrong, jr., MF Lewis Barbe, sr., F Brooks Schaaf, sr., F Dane Cobb, soph.
Key newcomers: unavailable
Outlook: “We will have several holes to fill from our 2018 GSL title-winning side after graduating 12 seniors, but fortunately program depth is at an all-time high,” Lamb said. “Our replacements, while considerably younger, should have us in the hunt for a repeat.”
Mead
Coach: Steven Acosta, third season
2018 record: 2-5-0-2, sixth
Starters graduated/returning: 3/8
Key departures: MF Adam Nevdahl (All-GSL 2nd team).
Key returners: MF Conner Cary (All-GSL 2nd team), D Eli Eldridge, jr., GK Noah Taigen, jr.
Key newcomers: MF Eli Johnson, fr.
Outlook: A strong junior class headlines both solid defense and offense. “We are returning a majority of the team but need to replace three key players, both on the field and leadership,” Acosta said. “We need to develop an identity as a team and come together to play as a unit.”
University
Coach: Mitch Weller, fourth season
2018 record: 4-5-0-0, fifth
Starters graduated/returning: 2/8
Key departures: D Blake Dickinson (All-GSL hon. mention), F Tate O’Kert, MF Diego Garcia
Key returners: MF Cole Dobson, jr., (All-GSL 1st team), D Zack Mattson, sr., (All-GSL 1st team), F Fraser Robertson, sr., (All-GSL 2nd team), GK Jaymon Manzi, sr., (All-GSL 2nd team)
Key newcomers: unavailable
Outlook: The team has plenty of leaders. “They’re hungry to win and to create a culture of winning,” Weller said. “It’s a solid core returning from last year with a willingness to work for each other to accomplish our team goals.”
Mt. Spokane
Coach: Morgan Hartanov, second season
2018 record: 2-6-1-0, second in 3A
Starters graduated/returning: 5/6
Key departures: MF Peter Stewart, F Garren Koller, F Brad Campbell.
Key returners: MF Jared Schnug, soph., F Keagan McMurray, soph., D Kinkade McMurray, soph., F Cameron Sing, jr.
Key newcomers: F Ryan Rosselet, fr., MF Eduardo Garcia, jr.
Outlook: “We are coming into the season with a very young team, but with a lot of potential,” Hartanov said. “I think we will be competitive with most teams this year in the GSL, but will come down to the heart and dedication to teammates.”
North Central
Coach: Matt Leonard, sixth season
2018 record: 2-4-2-1, first in 3A
Starters graduated/returning: 7/4
Key departures: MF Aiden Chaparro (All-GSL 1st team), D Erik McLaughlin (All-GSL 2nd team), MF Derric Deatherage, GK Josh Ruff.
Key returners: MF Marcus Abdel Malek, jr., D Greg Johnson, sr., MF Abbas Al Mohamed, jr.
Key newcomers: F Deiby Vargas Bernardez, jr., (transfer), D Bryce Anderson, fr.
Outlook: “We graduated 10 players last year and are in a bit of a rebuild,” Leonard said. “I’m really excited, though, to see what our new incoming players are going to contribute. We’re going to be young, but we have a solid core of returners to complement the abundance of new players.”
Rogers
Coach: Mark Sherwood, first season
2018 record: 0-6-2-1, third in 3A
Starters graduated/returning: 6/5
Key departures: MF Javier Ayala-Rosales, D Fernando Ayala-Rosales, D Jesus Cadena.
Key returners: GK Daunte Demarce, jr., MF Victor Gomez, jr., F Igor Kruhlyi, jr.
Key newcomers: unavailable
Outlook: “This team is returning many players that earned valuable experience last year in our run down the stretch,” Sherwood said. “We are looking to fill a couple of major voids left by our graduating class from last year, but we have a young, energetic group of players who are looking to step up and contribute.”
Shadle Park
Coach: Russell Davis, first season
2018 record: 1-7-0-1, fourth in 3A
Starters graduated/returning: 5/6
Key departures: F Devin McGowan (All-GSL hon. mention)
Key returners: D Kole Knudsen, sr., (All-GSL 2nd team), D Cam Hernandez, sr., MF Jackson Davis, jr., MF Gage Smith, so.
Key newcomers: unavailable
Outlook: “We have high-character players with great team spirit,” Davis said. “We need a goal scorer or two to emerge.”
Great Northern League
Cheney (1-8-1-2 in 2018) lost a pair of all-league players, including goalkeeper Dalton Mauzay, but returns nine starters and 12 lettermen. Senior MF Samuel Fix was an All-GNL first-team selection and senior F Noah Schorzman was a second-teamer. “In order to be competitive this season, I believe that we need to test our mettle,” second-year coach René Caro said. “I think this lot is hungry to turn what, on paper, looks like a disappointing season last year into a successful one.” … Clarkston (8-2-1-1) returns seven starters for sixth-year coach Corinthia Richert, including senior F Theo Baiye and junior MF Steve Baiye, second-team and honorable mention all-state, respectively, along with All-GNL first-team GK Alessandro Italia. “We are returning with a lot of key players who have been starters for us since they were freshman,” Richert said. “They have a state appearance under their belt and are very hungry for more and to achieve new goals never before achieved by a soccer program here.” … East Valley (4-6-2-0) second-year coach Todd Slater has five starters back, including senior All-GNL second-team D Guiliano Dinaro and junior GK Everado Vargas, but the Knights have to replace All-GNL first-team selections D Joey Gresch and MF Zach Bowsky. … Pullman (10-1-0-1) is off to a rough start (0-5-0) in nonleague play after a league title and state appearance last season. Coach Doug Winchell has just five seniors, including GK Braden Patrick and second-team all-league MF Will Konkel. … West Valley (3-9-0-0) graduated three All-GNL honorees from its defensive back line from a year ago: first-teamers Tajadin Mohammed and Chase Howat and second-team pick Drake Pederson. Second-team all-league junior GK Michael Hartis returns for sixth-year coach Lenny Peterson.
Northeast A
Lakeside (12-0-0-0) brings back nine starters from last season’s league champion and state qualifier. First-year coach Andy Hackett has five All-NEA first-team selections, including senior GK Carter Christen and senior MFs Jeff Friedman, JJ Williamson and Ethan Williams. “We feel like we can make a run at a state title,” Hackett said. “Our strengths come from our skill on the ball, the overwhelming pressure we put on other teams, and our rock solid defense.” … Newport (4-7-1-0) fifth-year coach Mark Zorica lost three-time All-NEA first-team MF Kade Zorica but has all-league senior GK Adam Moorhead and F Troy Hill (soph.) to fall back on. “There are question marks at nearly every position, but it is my hope that this uncertainty spurs competition for the available spots, ultimately making the team stronger,” Zorica said. “We need to find ourselves pretty quickly – it is critical that this team accepts the fact that we need to get after it right away and go to work. … Riverside (3-8-0-1) will rely on three juniors – F Cody Ziehnert, MF Dylan Balauro and GK Lucas Burns – to steady a young team for second-year coach Jeremy Proctor. Freshmen Kameron Toner and Oscar Eagle will play big roles.