The list of challengers among Suburban Council boys soccer teams is getting longer.
Besides usual suspects such as Shenendehowa and Bethlehem, there are several teams that could contend for first place in both divisions. That list includes the likes of Ballston Spa, Saratoga Springs and Shaker in the North, as well as Guilderland, Colonie and Mohonasen in the South.
The Suburban Council is loaded from top to bottom, said Colonie coach Michael Trimarchi. `There are certainly no easy games.`
`I think it’s going to be really tight,` said Niskayuna coach Jeffrey Ormsbee. `Anybody can win it. We came on late last year, and I think we’ll be in the mix.`
The league produced two Section II champions last year ` Shenendehowa in Class AA, and Mohonasen in Class A. To repeat, though, both teams have to fend off their challengers.
`Last year, the motivation was, ‘What have you guys done?’ because we had won league titles before, but the league title isn’t a big deal,` said Shen coach Michael Campisi. `This year, the motivation is to repeat.`
Here is a closer look at the Suburban Council boys soccer field:
North Division
Ballston Spa Scotties
Head coach: Garry Preece
Key players: Connor Preece (M/F), Alec Johnson (M), Sean Maruscsak (M/D), Corey Stewart (M), Kevin Marin (F), Dan Bortoloni (M/F), Jeff West (D), Brett Gruener (D), Evan Mendez (G)
Outlook: With most of their starting lineup intact from last year’s roster, the Scotties are looking to make more waves in the Suburban Council.
`The team expects to compete for the Suburban Council North Division regular season title, and [it] has set a goal of advancing further into the Sectional tournament this year,` said coach Preece.
Johnson and Connor Preece ` both league all-stars last year ` are expected to lead Ballston Spa’s offense once again.
`Preece can positively contribute at any position. He is a terrific player with sound technical skills and unlimited potential,` said coach Preece. `Johnson brings a controlled command to the team with his play. He is an intelligent player who creates attacking opportunities for his teammates, and [he] is an excellent defender.`
BH-BL Spartans
Head coach: Roy Pfeil
Key veterans: Matt Horan (GK), Tommy Mocito (F), Bryce Kahler (F), Greg Rabideau (M/D)
Key newcomers: Sean Sullivan (D), Jake Baxter (D), Conner Clune (D), Caleb Sloane (M), Blake Jackson (M), Tim Hughes (M)
Outlook: Pfeil has no illusions about what the Spartans can do within the Suburban Council.
`We’re approaching the [league] season as we approach everything we do ` we want to win,` said Pfeil.
`Realistically we probably won’t win everything, but we’re approaching it as we want to win everything.`
The immediate challenge facing BH-BL is getting its defense settled, since everyone but Horan graduated last year.
`I think we’re going to be decent in the midfield and forwards and inexperienced in the back,` said Pfeil. `How quickly the defense comes along will determine how successful we will be.`
Niskayuna Silver Warriors
Head coach: Jeffrey Ormsbee
Key players: Andrew Downey (F), Monil Patel (F), Ryan Tauss (M), Kyle Maiuccoro (M), Tyler Garrity (M), Tanner McIver (D), Joe Repicky (D)
Outlook: The Silver Warriors are looking for their second consecutive year of improvement from their last-place finish in 2008.
`Right now, we’re nursing some injuries,` said Ormsbee. `Once we get healthy, we should be all right.`
Ormsbee said the key to Niskayuna’s improvement can be found in the number of players that compete with elite travel teams in the Capital District.
`They all play in different clubs, but they all play,` said Ormsbee. `They’re coming together well as a Niskayuna bunch now.`
Saratoga Blue Streaks
Head coach: Jeff Geller
Key veterans: Aaron Costello (G), Will Johns, Morgan Smith, Eli Sterngass, Chris Jayko
Key newcomers: Steven Celeste, Bret Celeste, Ercan Killic
Outlook: The Blue Streaks made school history in 2009 by reaching the Section II, Class AA finals against county rival Shenendehowa. Now, they want to make more history by claiming the school’s first Sectional championship.
`I know the guys who were on the team last year want to continue the success this year, now that they’ve had a taste of it,` said Geller. `The guys who are up from JV, some of them were up with us during last year’s playoffs, so they know what it’s like.`
Geller said the key to Saratoga’s continued success is having a balanced offense.
`Any one of eight players on our team can contribute,` said Geller. `We will get contributions from several players, not just one or two.`
Shaker Blue Bison
Head coach: Bill Blesi
Key players: Austin Britt (M), Bobby Daley (M), Luke Scarchilli (D), Brian Gallagher (D), Nick Shamlian (D), Tim Preston (F), Conor Cahalan (F)
Outlook: The Blue Bison had their sights set high last year, but injuries and a wave of the H1N1 flu sidetracked them.
`We barely had a winning season last year, but we had a winning season,` said Blesi, whose Shaker team finished with a 9-8-1 record. `I had a different vision for my team, but injuries and illnesses hurt us.`
With several North Division teams returning a large core of veterans, Blesi said he’s tempering his outlook this season.
`Our division is hard,` he said. `We have Shen, which is always tough. We have Ballston Spa, which returns most of their guys. And we have Saratoga, which added three players that didn’t play for them last year but are accomplished players.`
Shenendehowa Plainsmen
Head coach: Mike Campisi
Key veterans: Brendan Dempsey (F), Adam Barlow (F), Mike Jenkins (M), Matt Silvi (M), Scott Taglione (D), Alex Duerr (D), John Mabee (G), Tommy Flaim (M)
Key newcomers: Sammi Teymour (M), Tim Johnson (D), Shane Breznak (D)
Outlook: The defending Section II Class AA champs took a hit with the graduation of leading scorer David Clemens, but Campisi said that opens the door for some of his other players to contribute.
`I don’t know if we have a top-end guy, but I think we have more balance,` said Campisi.
That balance will be key for the Plainsmen if they are to go farther than the state semifinals this season.
`When you get to the playoffs, it actually helps because when you think about it last year, if you took away Clemens you took away a lot of our offense,` said Campisi. `Teams won’t be able to do that this year.`
South Division
Averill Park Warriors
Head coach: Sean Organ
Key veterans: Nick Hess (F), Jamie White (D), Brandan Westfall (G), Sean Mullen (M)
Outlook: Organ said the Warriors want to be one of those Class A teams that can give the Class AA schools in the Suburban Council a run for their money this season.
`I feel we’ll be more competitive in the league than in the past,` said Organ. `I think we’re more athletic. The kids bought into the strength and conditioning program we had during the off-season.`
Organ added he has high hopes for the duo of Hess and Mullen.
`[Mullen] does a very good job of setting people up [to score goals], especially Nick Hess,` said Organ. `Hopefully, those two will combine to provide a lot of offense.`
Bethlehem Eagles
Head coach: Phil Ridgway
Key players: Jeff Cooley (G), Derek Dewitt (D), Connor Oberlander (F), Brad Campion (D), Dan Carrillo-Rodriguez (M), Brian Spina (M), Patrick Gunty (D), Tyler Kessler (M), Connor McMahon (F), Ethan Gunty (F)
Outlook: With seven seniors expected to make contributions this season, the Eagles are a mature team. But Ridgway said in some ways, Bethlehem is a work in progress ` especially with 11 juniors and three sophomores on the roster.
`We’re a young team, but [I’m] encouraged by what I’ve seen so far,` said Ridgway.
Ridgway added that his team can’t afford to have the type of injuries like the one that Kessler had last year, when he suffered a season-ending broken leg three games into the season.
`We’ve got a good core group, but we don’t have a lot of depth,` said Ridgway.
Colonie Garnet Raiders
Head coach: Mike Trimarchi
Key players: Todd Lawson (G), Egin Hadjimurapovic (M/F), Massimo Smiroldo (M/F), Tommy Osipitan (M/F), Eugene Corcione (D), Will Lyons (D), Conor Walsh (D)
Outlook: Smiroldo and Osipitan lead a talented junior class into action for the Garnet Raiders as they aim to improve on last year’s third-place finish.
`We’re excited about the things we can do,` said Trimarchi. `We’re looking forward to continuing to grow as the season goes on.`
Staying near the top depends on how well Colonie plays against the tougher teams in the Suburban Council.
`We’re hoping to stay competitive and finish somewhere in the top half of the league so we can get a good seeding for Sectionals,` said Trimarchi.
Columbia Blue Devils
Head coach: Lucas LaBarre
Key veterans: Connor White (M), Logan Murphy (F), Matt Konieczny (F)
Outlook: The Blue Devils have nowhere to go but up following a disastrous 2009 season.
`I think we have a fair chance of improving on last year,` said LaBarre. `We have a lot of scoring back.`
White leads a large group of juniors that LaBarre is hoping will make Columbia more competitive.
`Our whole mantra is to improve on our record and surprise some teams,` said LaBarre.
Guilderland Dutchmen
Head coach: Mike Kinnally
Key players: Jordan Weeden (D), J.P. Horan (G), Brandon Leichmar (G), Nick Iurno (M), Cliff Bondi (M), Vito Mesiti (F), James Mesiti (M), Andres Roma (D), Michael Crupi (D)
Outlook: The Dutchmen have 13 players back from last year’s team, but only five of them started and none of them played defense.
`We’ve got a lot of holes to fill,` said Kinnally.
The key for Guilderland is generating enough offense to compensate for any defensive lapses.
`I think scoring is going to be a little bit of an issue, but we have some talent in the midfield,` said Kinnally.
Mohonasen Mighty Warriors
Head coach: Corey Gregg
Key players: Joe Avery (D), Gianluco Puorto (M), Connor McDermott (D), Cameron McDermott (M), A.J. Igoe (F)
Outlook: The Mighty Warriors went on a mighty run late last season to win their last three Suburban Council games. They then carried that momentum into the Class A playoffs, where they won their second consecutive Sectional title.
With 10 returning starters from last year’s team, Gregg said he’s looking for his team to pick up where it left off.
`We still have a couple of holes to fill because we graduated a couple of players, but I think we’re more like the team we were at the end of last year,` said Gregg.
Still, Gregg said getting wins in the Suburban Council won’t be easy for Mohonasen.
`Last year, we were overmatched within the Suburban Council,` said Gregg. `This year, I’m looking to be at least competitive within the league.“
