BISHOP EUSTACE CRUSADERS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bishop Eustace is happy to welcome back senior for- ward/midfielder Lorenzo Carletti, who has made the all-conference first team each of the last two sea- sons. He had six goals and nine assists in 2019 and will be a key player at both ends of the field this fall. Seniors John Ver- recchia (five goals, five assists) and Billy Pickering (three goals) are other returning playmakers along with sophomore Liam Higgins, who made an impact as a rookie with four goals and two assists. Junior Alex Pobre is a veteran midfielder and junior Danny O’Rourke leads the defense after earning all-conference second-team honors as a sophomore.
OUTLOOK: The Crusaders’ 8-10-1 record last fall included a second-place finish in the Olympic National and a playoff berth. With Carletti leading a solid cast of returners, they will look to contend in the division again.
CAMDEN CATHOLIC FIGHTING IRISH
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior forward Billy Clewell has led Camden Catholic in scoring each of his first two seasons and should only get better as an upperclassman. He had eight goals and nine assists as a sophomore to make the all-conference first team. Senior Lucas Dunn, an all-conference second-teamer, is another dangerous player up top who had four goals and three assists. Senior Shane Serio is a key veteran in the midfield and other offensive contributors are senior Sean Martin and juniors Frank Felix, Daniel Becker and Braden Wixted. Junior Ryan Davis and seniors Joseph Giegerich and Chris Conte are experienced defenders in front of sophomore goalie Matt Marino, who seized the starting job last year as a freshman.
OUTLOOK: The Fighting Irish went 5-12-3 last fall with their first playoff victory in many years. The program has made strides in recent seasons and the next step is pushing for a .500 or better record.
CHEROKEE CHIEFS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: A strong nucleus is back for Cherokee, including senior midfielder Ian Bialy. He led the team with seven goals and chipped in two assists to earn all-conference first-team recognition. Two other talented midfielders are senior Connor Ryan and sophomore Chris Meder, who netted four goals as a rookie. Both made the all-conference second team. Senior Kevin Rourke and sophomore Brandon Michael also had four goals and senior Luke Fanning is another scoring option. The defense is led by senior backs Joseph Napoli, Zach Weiner and Adam Frankenfield and senior goalie Ethan Donnerstag. Other returners expected to contribute are senior Sean Milelli, juniors Alex Wieliczko and Lee Gerber and sophomore Miguel Graterol.
OUTLOOK: The Chiefs bounced back from two straight losing seasons to go 9-7-2 last fall, ending the year with a 1-0 loss to Washington Township in the first round of the playoffs. With much of the roster returning, they could be ready to contend in the Olympic American.
CHERRY HILL EAST COUGARS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Cherry Hill East has been making big strides as a program lately and hopes to continue doing so despite graduating four all-conference players, three of them on the first team. Two of the top returners are senior brothers Drew and Luke Luerhs, who have been varsity contributors since they were sophomores. Drew, a defensive midfielder, made the all-conference second team last year, while Luke, a forward, scored three goals. Other key returners in the midfield are senior Hank Feudtner (three goals, three assists) and sophomore Adam Blumenthal three goals, two assists), who earned all-conference second-team honors as a rookie. Senior midfielder Hugo Campoverde and sophomore forward Jakub Samelko will also have an impact, while the defense is paced by senior Rei O’Brien and sophomore Trey Shaw. Seniors Patrick Keller and Matt Mueller will compete to take over as the starting goalie for this year’s squad.
OUTLOOK: Last season was a memorable one for the Cougars, as they went 10-6-4 to notch their first winning record since 2012. That included quality wins over Shawnee and Washington Township, a playoff victory over Eastern and a berth in the South Jersey Coaches Tournament. With a solid core in place, they expect to remain competitive.
CHERRY HILL WEST LIONS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Cherry Hill West graduated its two top scorers but is fortunate to welcome back senior captain Ian Dolan. The midfielder had two goals and three assists and made the all-conference first team. Senior defender Konrad Jablonski, the leader of the back line, is another returning all-conference first-teamer. Other key veterans are senior defender Tim Redmond—who is back after missing half of last season with an injury— and senior midfielder Colin Chance. Senior Shane Thompson is another returning starter on defense, while junior forward Ethan Steinbiss and sophomore forward Michael Tepper each netted three goals and will be important pieces of the attack. Senior Jack McCandless and sophomore Peter Graffeo saw significant minutes last year and will also contribute offensively, and junior Caleb Williams returns in the midfield and is expected to take on a bigger role. Junior Jason Coburn is ready to take over as the starting goalie after serving as the backup last year.
OUTLOOK: The Lions’ 9-7-4 season included their first Olympic National title in three years and a trip to the sectional quarterfinals. They have the potential to contend in the division once again.
CLEARVIEW PIONEERS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Clearview suffered huge losses to graduation, as all-South Jersey selections Jack Accorsi and Kevin Donahue and five other all-conference players were among 14 seniors on last year’s squad. The top returner is senior forward Cody Scully, who had four goals and eight assists on his way to all-conference second-team accolades. Senior forwards David Bui and Joshua Oladipo and junior midfielder Robbie Kaufman will also be counted on offensively. Senior Jacob Gamber is a key veteran on defense and junior Jamel Yasmin will look to take over as the starting goalie after serving as the backup last year.
OUTLOOK: Last season was a special one for the Pioneers, who went 17-3-2, captured their first Tri- County Royal title since 2010 and reached the final of the South Jersey Coaches Tournament for the first time in program history. They hope to stay competitive this fall while rebuilding the roster.
EASTERN VIKINGS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Although five all-conference players graduated, Eastern has some young talent to be excited about. That includes junior forward Nick Yushchak, who made the all-conference second team as a sophomore and could be ready to emerge as the leading scorer. Junior Trey Koch is another offensive contributor, along with two sophomores who showed potential as rookies: John Thiel and Jordi Guifarro. Senior leaders are midfielders Matt Meade and Colton Gryskiewicz and goalie Joe Weichert, who has been the starter in net since his sophomore year. Other returners hoping to make an impact are seniors Cole Chuppe, Ben Fulleylove and Chris Healey and junior Jack Galvin.
OUTLOOK: The Vikings went 9-5-4 and fell to division rival Cherry Hill East in the first round of the playoffs last fall. There are several big spots to fill but a promising crop of returners should have them pointed for another winning season.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC RAMS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ryder Wicken made quite a first impression last year as a rookie, as he led Gloucester Catholic with 11 goals and made the all-conference second team. It will be interesting to see how he builds on that debut as a sophomore. Senior Ian Negron, an all-conference second-teamer, is another top returner who will again lead the defense and contribute offensively as well. Sophomore Cole Raudenbush joins Wicken as a talented sophomore after netting three goals as a freshman. Senior Tyler Carter and junior Colin Murphy are experienced players expected to have an impact.
OUTLOOK: With Wicken and other talented youngsters back in the fold, the Rams have a good chance of improving on last year’s 6-12 record under new head coach Bill Gore, a longtime contributor to South Jersey sports.
HADDONFI ELD BULLDAWGS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior forward Christian Ball has put together back-to-back strong seasons to start his high school career and will look to become Haddonfield’s go-to scorer as an upper- classman. He had seven goals and nine assists last year to earn all-conference first-team recognition. Senior forward Alessandro Meucci (six goals) is another talented playmaker, while senior Sully Norton and junior Auden Yowler will also look to contribute offensively. Senior Ryan Angstadt is a key returner in the midfield, and juniors Jon Bucci and Jack O’Donnell will be counted on heavily at the position as well. Seniors Declan Malcarney and Henry Courtney and junior Joe Lamb are experienced goalies who will face an open competition for the starting job. Veteran defenders are juniors Daniel Guzman, Billy Impagliazzo, Cyrus Marwaha and Samir Marwaha and senior Jacob Schmitt.
OUTLOOK: The Bulldawgs’ 11-6-3 season included an undefeated mark in the Colonial Conference Liberty and their fourth division championship in five years, and they went on to reach the sectional quarterfinals. They should be division contenders again this fall.
KINGSWAY DRAGONS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: A strong core returns for Kingsway, led by three outstanding pieces of the defense. Senior goalie Jason Grandizio, who joined the program last year after transferring from the Philadelphia Union Academy, posted 10 shutouts and 92 saves on his way to all-South Jersey third-team and all-conference first-team accolades. Jeff Heineman, a junior center back, joined Grandizio on the all-conference first team and was also an all-South Jersey second-teamer. Senior Conrad Cliver, an all-conference second-teamer, is a physical presence and aerial winner who is the perfect complement to the fleet Heineman. Junior Pat Roche is yet another experienced player on the back line, while senior Evan Bretz and junior Rich Bryan will also contribute on defense. Leading scorer Sean Fatiga graduated, but the Dragons do welcome back senior forward Chris Spicer, an all-conference second-teamer who had five goals and five assists. Senior Owen Ryan (three goals, four assists) is another all-conference second-teamer and leads a stacked midfield that also brings back seniors Ethan Nguyen (seven goals, four assists), Matthew Hengey (five goals, two assists) and Bailey Cifone (one goal, four assists) and junior Eucario Flores (one goal, four assists). Senior Ashton Ruggio and junior AJ Henry are experienced goalies, and other returners are senior Bode Camann and juniors Kevin Heier and Sean Daly.
OUTLOOK: The Dragons are coming off a memorable season in which they went 15-4-1 and reached the semifinals of the South Jersey Coaches Tournament before dropping a heartbreaker to eventual champion Moorestown in penalty kicks. They also made the sectional quarterfinals. With 25 juniors and seniors on this year’s roster, they look like major contenders in the Tri-County Royal and also have the talent to make a playoff run.
LENAPE INDIANS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Lenape graduated most of its scoring but is happy to welcome back senior goalie Justin Gibson, who recorded six shutouts, had over 100 saves and made the all-conference second team. Junior back Landon Friedman also made the all-conference second team and senior Ethan Baker is another experienced defender. Senior midfielders Xavier Scotland and Christian Apostal and senior forwards Alex Siniscalo and Demetrius Zissimos will look to pick up the slack offensively. Other returners hoping to contribute are senior Robbie Heller and juniors Justin Penny and Morgan Magargee.
OUTLOOK: The Indians went 8-8-3 last fall—their third straight .500 season—and dropped a one-goal game to Egg Harbor in the first round of the playoffs. Their veteran defense should help them stay competitive in 2020.
MOORESTOWN QUAKERS
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Moorestown graduated 15 seniors, including South Jersey Midfielder of the Year Dov McGuire-Berk and four other all-conference players. But the cupboard is far from empty. Senior midfielder Evan Buckley, senior forward Logan Jagodzinski and junior forward Cade McGrath will all be key pieces of the offense. Seniors Steven Johns and Kole Obassi are other experienced midfielders. Senior back Christian Trzeciak made the all-conference second team and leads the defense along with seniors Brenton Steiner, Ben Pollach and Jason Carew. Senior Wyatt Atkinson will look to earn the starting job in net.
OUTLOOK: The Quakers had a season to remember last fall, thanks to their run to the South Jersey Coaches Tournament title. They went on to reach the sectional quarterfinals and finished with a 14-5-3 record. There is no replacing the senior class, but they have a nice core in place and hope to post another winning season.
MOORESTOWN FRIENDS FOXES
PLAYERS TO WATCH: A special senior class returns for Moorestown Friends and has high hopes for a huge final campaign. Three of those seniors made the all-conference first team last year: Matt D’Ottavi, Evan Schlotterbeck and Mikey Paznokas. D’Ottavi, a forward, has led the team in scoring every year of his career and erupted for 32 goals and eight assists as a junior. He is one of the best finishers in the area and made the all-South Jersey second team in 2019. Schlotterbeck (four goals, four assists) is a talented defender/midfielder who made the all-South Jersey first team and Paznokas is a three-year starter in goal who had 123 saves and 10 shutouts. Joining D’Ottavi up top are senior Nolan Schenk and junior Evan Kolaris, while junior Daniel Weinstock leads a deep crop of midfielders that includes seniors Kian Canelas, Aidan Connolly, Tyler Patton and Carrington Mizelle. Experienced defenders are seniors Sean Wiseman and Cole Harvey and sophomore Sulayman Hussain, and senior Brent Cohen contributes at several posit ions, including goalie. Other returners expected to have an impact are junior Wesley Simpson and sophomore Alec Fogg.
OUTLOOK: The Foxes went 17-6 last year—their seventh consecutive season with at least 10 wins—and claimed their third sectional title in five years. Although state tournaments will likely not be held this season due to the coronavirus, this remarkable group has the look of a championship squad.
PAUL VI EAGLES
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior forward Matt Guerrero is primed for a big final season at Paul VI after scoring six goals last year to tie for the team lead. He was an all-conference second-team selection. Senior Anthony Carpinella, junior Nick Anselmi and sophomore Brandon Velasquez are other talented forwards and Brad Maslowski is a top player in the midfield who will be counted on offensively. Sophomore John Leary seized the starting goalie job as a rookie and played well enough to earn all-conference second-team accolades. Two defensive starters return in front of him: junior center back Anthony Marchese and sophomore outside back Chris Taylor.
OUTLOOK: The Eagles’ 7-9-2 season included a trip to the sectional semifinals before losing to eventual South Jersey champion St. Augustine. They hope to build on the playoff run this fall and contend for a winning record under new head coach Bob Stocklin.
SENECA GOLDEN EAGLES
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Seneca graduated all-conference and all-South Jersey forward Luke Leach, who set a school sin- gle-season record with 20 goals and a career record of 47 goals. But a solid core is still in place, led by senior midfielders and captains Shane Lovett and Elkin Bonilla-Hernandez. Lovett had five goals and three assists on his way to all-conference first-team honors, while Bonilla-Hernandez added two goals and six assists despite missing time with an injury to make the all-conference second team. Both will be counted on to pick up their scoring in Leach’s absence. Junior captain Mark Palladino and sophomores Dylan Bednarek and Michael Orth are other key players in the midfield, and forwards hoping to contribute are junior Colby Anderson and sophomores Owen Eberman, Tyler Klymand Cole Houston. Experienced defenders are seniors Sam Cajigas and Jack O’Keefe, junior Matt Miller and sophomore Trent Lehmann. The goalkeeper position is an open competition where senior Zach Klymand sophomore Christian Mazza are two possible candidates to take over as the starter. A host of other players from the JV and freshman teams will compete for playing time as well.
OUTLOOK: The Golden Eagles entered last season with a lot of unknowns and got off to a 1-6-2 start, but rebounded to play well down the stretch, advanced to the sectional quarterfinals and finished with a 9-8-4 record. They will obviously miss Leach’s finishing ability, but another winning season appears likely.
SHAWNEE RENEGADES
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Seven starters are back for Shawnee, including sophomore Andrew Kitch, who is coming off an impressive rookie campaign. The midfielder had 10 goals and five assists to make the all-conference first team and it will be exciting to see him continue to progress. Other top midfielders are senior Matt Longshaw (six goals, two assists) and junior Patrick Sipera, a starter since his freshman year. Four big pieces of the defense are back: goalie Daniel Ferrer and backs Owen Healy and Braden Short, all juniors, and senior back Jake Borsky. Other key veterans are junior midfielder Tyler Davidson and senior defender Owen Randall. Also looking to contribute are juniors Andrew Johnston, Matt McFadden , R yan Sharpley and Gavin Matesich and sophomore Charlie Kitch.
OUTLOOK: Despite fielding a young squad in 2019, the Renegades went 11-6-1, claimed their second Olympic American title in three years and won games in the Coaches Tournament and the sectional playoffs. With a strong nucleus in place, more success should be on the way this fall.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP MINUTEMEN
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Two all-conference first-teamers are back for Washington Town- ship: midfielder JR Cima and goalie Kyle Stone, both seniors. Cima, a three-year starter, led the team with 10 goals a year ago, while Stone entered the starting lineup for the first time and responded with 116 saves and 10 shutouts. Junior midfielder Matt Liss is another key returner who has made an impact since his freshman year and registered four goals and two assists as a sophomore. Seniors Tyler Proffitt and Daulton Henricks and juniors Nick Kelly and Noah Pollack will also contribute up top and in the midfield. The defense in front of Stone includes juniors Aiden McGuigan, Bugra Kumas and Giorgio Tasiopoulos, and seniors expected to see time are Gus Schultes and Joe DiRaddo.
OUTLOOK: The Minutemen were not as dominant in 2019 as years past but still managed to play at a high level. They went 13-7-2, finished second in the Olympic American and reached the Coaches Tournament and sectional semifinals. They will look to contend again this fall.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 5 (July 2020).
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