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Hazleton Area
Coach: Rob Schoener, 4th season
Home Field: Maple Manor Field (former Bishop Hafey football field)
2014 record: 4-9-1
Key players lost: Caleb Ancharski, Christian Matricini, Brandon Watt
Key players returning: Shane Jordan, Sr.; Jonathan Poziak, So.; Brendan Lohr, Sr.; Josh Covrrubias-Capriotti, Jr.
Outlook: The players the Cougars lost from last season are big pieces, no question, but were mostly on defense so there’s still plenty of experience coming back on offense. The Class 3A postseason is always tough, but if this team can hold its own in the regular season with Wyoming Valley West, that can go a long way in the playoffs.
“Our offense is coming back pretty much intact, losing just one starter,” Schoener said. “We are also returning many of the bench players who contributed to our improvement on offense last year. We look to continue our steady improvement this season.”
Pittston Area
Coach: Pat O’Boyle, 7th season
Home Field: Pittston Primary Center, Rock Street, Hughestown
2014 record: 2-11-1
Key players lost: Julian Kester, Brandon Shamnoski, Eann McCloe, Steve Pugliese
Key players returning: Colin Tracy, Sr.; Nick Terpak, Sr.; Vince Shea, Sr.; Nick Allardyce, Sr.; Shane Syms, So.; Mike McKitish, So.; Dominic Stella, So.; Nick Barbieri, So
Outlook: Last year turned out to be a bit of a rebuilding one for the Patriots, who always seem to be overmatched in Class 3A. With Valley West looking once again like a power, Pittston Area will need a lot to go right to knock the Spartans off the WVC 3A throne.
Wyoming Valley West
Coach: Charlie Whited, 6th season
Home Field: Spartan Stadium
2014 record: 13-1 (Division I champion, District 2 runner-up)
Key players lost: Andrew Kerrigan, Brian Grodzki, Dan Taren, Mitch Evan
Key players returning: Mike Bazadona, Sr.; Hunnter Maxwell, Sr.; Mike Tandoh, Sr.; Charlie Keefer, Jr.; Jake Gurtis, So.; Joyssen Gonzalez, Jr.
Outlook: The core of last year’s District 2 Class 3A runner-up squad return for another go-round this season. The team is hungry after a 1-0 loss to Abington Heights in the D2 final, and should be competing for the district title come late October this season.
DIVISION II (Class 2A)
Berwick
Coach: Bob Bond, 2nd season
Home Field: Crispin Field and Salem Soccer Field, Berwick
2014 record: 3-11-2
Key players lost: n/a
Key players returning: Kenneth Marshman, So.; Bristyn Watts, Sr.; Michael Rebyak, Sr.; Giuseppe Baratta, Sr.; Morgan Broyan, Sr.
Outlook: The Bulldogs have a lot to build on from last year as they peaked at the right time with all three wins and both ties coming in the second half of the season, including a tie against perennial power Dallas.
Coughlin
Coach: Rob Havard, 10th season
Home Field: The Bog, Miners Mills
2014 record: 16-0 (District 2 champion)
Key players lost: Travis Keil, Bobby Hawkins, Aaron Wroblewski, Brandon Butry, Nick Stavinski
Key players returning: Steve Johnson, GK; Sam Sebia, Pavel Svintozelskiy; Francisco Martinez; George Oko; Jarek Hernandez; Juan Mendoza; Henry Sanchez; Frank Castellana; Matt Davison; David Cortez
Outlook: “With eight returning starters from last year’s squad our expectations are high, but we also realize that there are some really strong teams in the WVC,” Havard said. “Staying focused and steady in our play is going to be the real determining factor of how well we do.”
Crestwood
Coach: Michael Stephensson, first year
Home Field: Crestwood High School
2014 record: 11-3-2
Key players lost: Alex Orrson, Matt Wimpfheimer
Key players returning: Lance Lysiak, Sr., GK; Andrew Ryman, Sr., D; Kyle Gegaris, Jr., M; Dylan Perrone, Jr., F; Jason Klusewitz, So., M/F
Outlook: “As a new coach for this year, I’m just hoping for a successful season where the players quickly adjust to the new system we’re implementing,” Stephensson said. “Obviously we want to be better than last year and I believe that we have enough talent and depth to achieve that goal.”
Dallas
Coach: Chris Scharff, 18th season
Home Field: Dallas High School
2014 record: 12-3-1
Key players lost: Nate Wood, Brian Butler, Aleksi Gittelson, Eric Pincofski
Key players returning: Corey Metz, Sr.; Christian Kimmerle; Zack Kalna
Outlook: The Mountaineers endured a down season for their standards last season, but still managed to pick up a win in the D2 playoffs. No question the team lost some scorers from the 2014 squad, but Dallas always seems to be one of the top teams in the conference and district. Don’t expect much different this season.
GAR
Coach: Len Witczak, 6th season
Home Field: Coal Street Park, Wilkes-Barre
2014 record: 3-13
Key players lost: Tony Tlatenchi, Elmer Strollis, Edwin Vergara, Nick Peterlin,
Key players returning: n/a
Outlook: In the second year of this new alignment GAR is in a tough position to compete with the powerhouses of the WVC.
Hanover Area
Coach: Matt Lukachinsky, 2nd season
Home Field: Hanover Area High School
2014 record: 1-15
Key players lost: Dylan Luzny, John Murphy,
Key players returning: Mark Kocher, Jr. GK; Chas Wasickanin, Jr. D; John Morgan, Sr., M/F; Jeff Bennett, Jr., F; Modou Janneh, So., M; Kyle Windt, Jr. F
Outlook: “Our focus is to keep improving daily. We are a young team still gaining experience,” Lukachinsky said. “If we work as one system and grow our soccer culture together, we will find success in due time.”
Lake-Lehman
Coach: Mike Kostrobala, 10th season
Home Field: Lake-Lehman High School
2014 record: 11-4-1
Key players lost: Collin Masters, Mike Symeon,
Key players returning: Tanner MacDougal, MF, Sr.; Nick Wnuk, F, Jr.; Ian Dawsey, F, Jr.; Ed Geist, MF, Sr.; Ben Brooks, D, Sr.; Zach Ouladelhadjahmed, Sr. D; Sam Saxe, MF, Fr
Outlook: “With nine starters back and a large senior class our expectations are high,” Kostrobala said. “Hopefully we compete well in our division and position ourselves for the district tournament. Earning home matches in the district tournament is important. With that said, I think Class 2A districts will be very competitive with Coughlin the team to beat again.”
Nanticoke
Coach: Mark Matusek, 27th season
Home Field: Greater Nanticoke Area High School football field
2014 record: 8-5-3
Key players lost: Wiston Godoy, Rees Roberts, Matt Winters, Jake Niewinski
Key players returning: Ed Lukowski, Sr., M; Carmelo Pioquinto, Sr., GK; Ben Serson, Sr., M; Nik Placek, Sr., M; Earl Managan, Sr., D; Brian Kotz, Jr., D
Outlook: The Trojans have six returning starters led by Lukowski, who became Hanover’s all-time leader scorer on Saturday. There’s still a lot of talent returning to this squad, which lost in three rounds of penalty kicks in the district quarterfinals last year to North Pocono.
“It is usually very difficult to replace five starters, but this is a strong core of returning players,” Matusek said. “And with a very good turnout of incoming players, I expect to be competitive and have a successful season.”
Tunkhannock
Coach: Mark Stroney, 5th season (23rd overall)
Home Field: Tewksbury Field, Digger Drive, Tunkhannock
2014 record: 9-6-1
Key players lost: Aidan Cronin, Eric Stamer,
Key players returning: Colton Brown, Sr.; Pat Casey, Sr.; Patrick Cronin, Sr.; Andrew Mills, Sr., GK; Dakota Quick, Sr.; Avery Newhart, Jr.; Drew Tinna, Jr.; Damon Williams, Jr.
Outlook: Last year the Tigers entered as reigning district champs, but with the target on their backs, they were ousted in the first round of districts. With no pressure this season and many players returning from the last two teams, Tunkhannock might be able to improve.
Wyoming Area
Coach: Nick Hufford, 4th season
Home Field: Tenth Street Elementary School, Wyoming
2014 record: 8-8
Key players lost: Josh Donvito, Nick Gushka, Mark O’Malley, Barry Pawloski
Key players returning: Ryan Shuleski, F, Jr. (10g, 4a, 24pts); Sam Giordano, D, Sr. (1g, 2pts); Brian McNew, D, Sr.; Mike Murphy, D, Sr.; Ryan Murphy, F, Sr.; David Klaproth, GK, Sr.; Zach Lagrue, MF, Sr.
Outlook: “We have a very experienced team with 10 seniors,” Hufford said. “We return our entire starting defensive line and keeper. It will take an entire team effort for us to achieve success. I strongly believe we will be in every game and be a tough out, especially come playoff time.”
DIVISION III (Class A)
Holy Redeemer
Coach: Mike Sokolas, 2nd season
Home Field: Eddie White Field, Plains Twp.
2014 record: 5-11
Key players lost: Rob Dougherty, Ryan Doyle, Matt Lyons, Brandon Povilitus, Adam Zipko, Tyler Scott
Key players returning: Noah Heck, Sr., D; Nick James, Sr., D; Josh Wychock, Sr. D; Jude Height, Jr. M/F; Anthony Khoudary, Jr., GK; Eric Schramm, So., M; Lucas Barnak, Fr., M
Outlook: The Royals really came on strong at the end of last season and took eventual D2 Class A champ Wyoming Seminary to overtime in the district quarters. If they can continue that momentum, the race in this classification will be very good.
“We left off on a high note last year playing our best game of the season against rival Seminary in districts and the team is very motivated by that,” Sokolas said. “I think we are in for an exciting season as we stay healthy and can improve on our ability to finish from last season.”
Meyers
Coach: Jack Nolan, 10th season
Home Field: Gibby Field, Wilkes-Barre
2014 record: 5-11
Key players lost: Jesse Macko, John Mendoza, Joel Tlatenchi
Key players returning: Austin Bynon, Sr., D; Adam Casey, Sr., D; Mauricio Castillo, Sr., M/F; Keith Ostrowski, Sr., M; Gino Setta, Sr., M/F; Derek Sosa, Sr., D; David Torres, Sr. GK
Outlook: It took two overtimes for third-seeded Lakeland to oust No. 11 seed Meyers from last year’s D2 quarterfinals. There’s a nice group returning from that team, and the Mohawks are in position to make things interesting in the regular season as well.
MMI
Coach: Terry Jankouskas, 3rd season
Home Field: MMI Athletic Complex
2014 record: 2-14
Key players lost: James Gabriel, Tristan Gibbons, Bobby Graaf, Billy Spear, Joe Synoski, Lexi Van Hoekelen, Nicolas Vilov, Avery Williams
Key players returning: n/a
Outlook: A coed program once again, the Preppers will have to rely on grit and determination to be able to compete at a very high level as they will have to play top-tier opponents all season.
Wyoming Seminary
Coach: Rev. Charles Carrick, 9th season
Home Field: Nesbitt Stadium, Kingston
2014 record: 14-2 (District 2 champion)
Key players lost: Andriy Molchanov, Malcolm Lumia,
Key players returning: Dominik Bohl, Sr.; Alex Grosek, Sr.; Kyle Hall, Sr., GK; Andrew Kim, Jr.; Michael Kim, Jr.; Geronimo Maspero, Sr.; Andrew Schukraft, Jr.
Outlook: Even though the target is now on their backs as the reigning D2 champ, that shouldn’t impact this team with so many players returning. The Blue Knights showed plenty of poise during last season’s run. They will however get stiffer competition this season, making a repeat more difficult.