Allegany County Preview

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Houghton Academy Panthers

Coach: Bryan Mastin

Class: D

Last Year: 14-1-1, lost in class D semifinals to Andover

Key Losses: Jon Peck 18 goals, 13 assists, Greg Wright 8 goals, 5 assists (key defensive midfielder), Andrew Roorbach – key defender

Key Returnees:Tyler Mastin – goalie, 11 goals allowed in 2008, 0.69 GAA, Jake Merrill – 3 goals 6 assists, soild midfielder, Karrel Kuwong – 6 goals, 5 assists, Mun Cho – 9 goals, 1 assist

Top Newcomers: Anthony Petrillo, Jae Joon

Strengths: "Solid keeper and several scoring options, very strong in the offensive half."

Weaknesses: "Lost many defenders from last year and am trying to rebuild the defense."

Coaches Outlook & Expectations: "Expect another solid season with a County Title."


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Canaseraga Indians

Coach: Matt Ras

Class: D

Last Year: Did not complete last season due to lack of players

Key Losses: Logan Spike

Key Returnees: Brad Brewster soph. goalie, Forest May Sr. Stopper, Sawyer Flint, Jr. Attack

Top Newcomers: Greg Thomas Fr. Attack, Danny Woodring Sr. Midfielder, and Mike Marble Sr. Defender

Strengths: "eager to prove themselves, young, playing with a lot of heart."

Weaknesses: "not a lot of playing experience"

Coaches Outlook & Expectations: "to be competitive and move the program forward!"

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Whitesville Blue Jays

Coach: Bill Horn

Last Year: 9-9 lost to scio in the first round of sectionals

Key Losses: Brad Stevens, Todd Sherman, Aaron Potter, and Brian Whitesell

Key players to watch: Dylan Lewis-Ellison, Darion Matteson, and Jesse Whitesell

Outlook:Numbers always is a concern at the Class D schools in Allegany County, but coach Bill Horn is happy with the numbers this season and has high expectations.
“I think we could be in the thick of things,”Horn said. “It’s just a matter of getting the younger kids ready.”
Trevor Jeffers and Dylan Lewis-Ellison are listed as the goalies, but Horn is hoping to get some scoring punch from Lewis-Ellison and Robby Ellison this season.
“Dylan, I think can be one of the premier players in the league,”Horn said.
As for who will be the goalie, that could change from day to day.
“We’ve got a couple of other options that we’re starting to look at,”Horn said. “It’ll be a game-to-game decision.”

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Andover Panthers

Head Coach: Erica Pease (1st season)

Last Year: 13-5-2 (Class D co-champions with Belfast; Lost 2-1 to DD champion Wheatland-Chili in regional qualifier)

Key Losses: Seth Shay,Josh Brubaker, Ron Schettine, Jesse McCutcheon, Brandon Brown

Key Returners: Devon Cornell (Sr. D), Cory Waters (Sr. MF), Greg Starks (Sr. F), Gage Padden (Jr. F), Adam Starks (Jr. MF)

Top Newcomers: Don Walker (Soph. MF), Brandon Murray (Sr. D), A.J. Niedermaier (Jr. MF), Joey Bryan (Soph. D), Jesse Grossman (Soph. D), Noah Hulse (Soph. D), Tyler Whitesell (Soph. GK), Ian Perry (Fr. MF/F), Jacob Bennett (Fr. F)

2009 Outlook:Pease inherits the defending Class D champions, but returns only a handful from the 2008 team ... Greg Starks moves from goalie to forward ... Sophomore Tyler Whitesell takes over as the Panthers’ No. 1 goalie ... Pease played three years of varsity soccer at Wellsville, helping the Lady Lions to three straight sectional finals ... Junior midfielder Adam Starks returns after missing last season with a broken leg ... Pease is hoping a strong focus on passing and team speed will keep the Panthers among the best teams in Class D.

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Belfast Bulldogs

Head Coach: Mark Sullivan (1st season)

Last Year: 12-5-2 (Class D co-champions with Andover; lost in shootout for spot in regional qualifier)

Key Losses:Ryan Paulsen, Robbie Beckett, Robby Taylor, Eric Gilbert, Mat Hillman, Mark McCumiskey, Keegan Harrington, Matt Rose

Key Returners:Coty Winchell (Sr. F), Aaron Worthington (Sr), Nate Cox (Sr.), Nate Dodge (Sr.), Caleb Bentley (Jr.)

Top Newcomers:Cody Borden (Jr. GK), Carson Harrington (Fr. F)

Outlook: Mark Sullivan most assuredly set some kind of a record — moving from one 2008 Section V Class D soccer champion to another. The new Bulldog coach and athletic director earned his third crown in five years when he guided Andover to the title last season, but wound up splitting the glory with his father, Rich, thanks to a scoreless tie in the championship game. With Rich’s retirement, Mark has moved up-county to take over at his alma mater, and finds that, while a total of nine seniors — including most of the back line that stymied his team until the decisive shootout in last year’s finals is gone — he still should have a fair amount of talent to work with.
“We lost a lot of defense,” Sullivan said, “but we’ve still got a few decent ballplayers. We’re changing our alignment to the one that worked for me in Andover, so the guys have had to go through quite an adjustment, but they’re beginning to fit into it pretty well.”
Belfast returners only five seniors, but they had an impressive outing in a lopsided scrimmage win over Arkport last week.
“Andover treated me real nice,”Sullivan said. “I’m going to miss it there, and I think they’ll be right up there, too. Of course, you can never count Whitesville out. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

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Scio Tigers

Head Coach: Rob Claypool (3rd season)

Last Year: 9-10 (Lost to No. 1 Webster Christian in Class D quarterfinals)

Key Losses:Kris Roberts, Jason Dean, Rob Fuller

Key Returners: Brett Elliott (Sr. F), Jeremiah Pizarro (Sr. F), Andrew Law (Sr. D), Tyler Greenman (Soph. D), Matt Austin (Sr. D), Cody Eisenhart (Jr. MF), Skylor Saxton (Sr. MF)

Top Newcomers:Devon Green (8th grade, GK), Zach Crawford (Jr. MF), Josh Bierman (Jr. MF)

Outlook: The Tigers continue to get younger, but will have two seniors — Brett Elliott and Jeremiah Pizarro — that should carry the scoring punch in 2009 ... Andrew Law is back leading the defense, along with sophomore Tyler Greenman and Matt Austin ... After Kris Roberts graduated, Claypool hands over the reins in net to eighth grader Devon Green, who like Roberts will benefit from his height.
“I’m optimistic in building a new program,” said Claypool, who led the Tigers to a season-opening 3-1 win over Canaseraga Tuesday in Scio. “I’m very confident that my freshmen that I moved up are ready and willing to step up for us.”

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Friendship Golden Eagles

Head Coach: Mike Cox

Last Year:1-14 (Did not qualify for sectionals)

Key Losses:Max Lewis, Brett Masten, Bryan Schaffer

Key Returners:Kevin Green (Sr.), Jake Masten (Sr. MF), Colton Pierce (Jr. GK)

Top Newcomers:Justin Greene (Soph.), Keith Masten (Soph.)

Outlook:Coach Mike Cox is enthusiastic about his Eagles’ chances this season, both because of an influx of young talent and a pair of senior-sophomore brother combinations he’ll have to work with.
“We’ve got a lot of young players coming up and I feel they’re more than up to the task,”said Cox. “Kevin Greene is a solid all-round player. He could be anywhere on the field — wherever we think the other team’s most dangerous player is. — and his younger brother, Justin, could be the same way. Our other brother duo is the Mastens. Jake, the senior, will be kind of our center mid fullback, while Keith is a striker.
Cox has the Eagles going with a diamond in the back of their 3-4-3 alignment, with junior goalie Colton Pierce backing them all up.