Fall sports preview -- soccer

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 15, 2004 7:28 AM

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Southern Wayne

Coach: Michael Wiggs, first season

Last season: Team folded at midseason

Gone: None

Back: Luis Cifuentes, Julian Martinez, Edward Segura

Outlook: The Saints rebuild again as Wiggs takes control of a squad with speed, agility and what he calls "workmanship." The team still lacks cohesiveness, which Wiggs hopes the squad can build in the first few games of the season.

Eastern Wayne

Coach: Jorg Wagner, 12th season

Last season: 13-7, fourth place in conference, advanced to third round of state 3-A playoffs

Gone: Eight seniors -- among them Julian Graham, Grady McDonnell, Tyler Sollars and Cameron Easley

Back: Stephen Stackhouse, David Hook, Bobby Gambella, Nickolai Rosinski, Josh Turner, Joe Gossett

Outlook: Wagner has rebuilt from the loss of eight key senior players and has a new batch of Warriors ready to contend. The players, hungry from a missed opportunity to win a conference title last season, have an increased work ethic that has pleased Wagner. Newcomers Dustin Smith and Andrew and Adam Corley are showing impressive promise. Wagner expects Charles B. Aycock, Washington and West Carteret to be strong contenders, but hopes to claim the conference crown again.

North Johnston

Coach: Brent Walston, second season

Last season: 8-15-1, fourth place in conference

Gone: Mayron Hernandez

Back: Jake Lomanaco, Ashley Moore, Garrett Stancil, Raul Farfan

Outlook: The Panthers are ready to roar in Walston's second season after posting a school-record eight wins last year. Leading scorer Lomanaco is back, and with him comes a lot of experience and great leadership with eight players in the senior class. Walston hopes to set another school wins record this season.

James Kenan

Coach: Steve Le Roux, first season

Last season: 17-5, 10-2 in conference; reached third round of state playoffs

Gone: Jaime Quintana, Chris Mitchell, Ingacio Campizano

Back: Demetrio Barrera, Hector Bermudez, Mario Meija

Outlook: The coach is new but the Tigers have a core of talent and should be competitive in conference play. Rosewood and Spring Creek were tapped by Le Roux as the conference teams to beat.

Charles B. Aycock

Coach: Kevin Adkins, ninth season

Last season: 12-10, lost in first round of state 3-A playoffs

Gone: Nine seniors, including Matthew Waddell, the ECC Player of the Year and News-Argus Player of the Year for 2003

Back: Garrett Davis, Carson Sasser, Bennett Jeffreys, Danny Derwitz

Outlook: Adkins sees a rebuilding season coming up, with only four seniors and four players back from last season's team. But he expects "a fun year" with the Falcons fighting it out in the middle of the conference ranks. Adkins sees Eastern Wayne, West Carteret and South Central as the teams in the league to beat.

Rosewood

Coach: Daniel Mitchell, fourth season

Last season: 18-5-1; advanced to second round of playoffs

Gone: Matt Mitchell, Matt Hill, Shawn Young, Nick Becton, Drew Farmer and Timmy Ramby all graduated; Dustin Overman switched to football

Back: Brandon Heitpas, Antell Richards, Joey Churchwell, Kyle Bunn, Goss Kendall

Outlook: The Eagles will get defensive this season, with experience returning in goal, in the defensive positions and at fullback. Mitchell's task is to rebuild the offense, using new players at midfield and at forward. The conference race, according to Mitchell, sees James Kenan and Spring Creek with strong clubs and North Johnston rapidly improving.

North Lenoir

Coach: Jim Montague, fifth season

Last season: 3-9-3

Gone: Shane Harris, Will Holland, Josh Stroud, Gerry Floyd, Josh Goodson, Anthony Gallo, Jerel Applewhite, Dillon Fleming

Back: Josh Baird, Douglas Beal, Donald Beal, Josh Williams, Andrew Pope, Brian Smith, Cody Jenkins, Alex McGaughy

Outlook: The Hawks are a defensively-oriented team that focuses on shutting down an opponent. With offensive firepower a perceived weakness, North Lenoir will look at a lot of 1-0 or 2-1 games as in its favor. Tarboro and Greene Central are expected to be favorites in Montague's eyes, with North Lenoir "right there in the middle."

Spring Creek

Coach: Christy Shivar, third season

Last season: unknown

Gone: Randy Amos, Matthew Guevremont, Patrick McSwain, Robbie Walters and Billy Hamm all graduated; Amos and Guevremont will assist Shivar this season as coaches. Carlos Mondragon, Eduardo Carachure and Jamie Aldana will not return

Back: Jed Potter, Phat Tran, Leonardo Marrero, Bryce Holmes, Derek Kirby, Paul Richter and Roland Rengalfo

Outlook: The Gators should be a solid offensive team despite the loss of most of their scoring from last season. The roster changes make Spring Creek inexperienced and full of youth, Shiver sees Rosewood and James Kenan as the conference's strongest teams, and wants daily improvement and to win a conference title to be her team's main goals.

Wayne Country Day

Coach: Michael Taylor, third season

Last season: 8-12, 1-9 in conference play; lost in second round of playoffs

Gone: Shivar Person, Daniel Whitley, Max Weaver

Back: Kevin Logan, Sam Steed, Hyo Won Ha; Will Futrell and Chris Reed have arrived as transfers

Outlook: After falling to state champion Greenfield School in the playoffs last season, Taylor sees a strong offense back for this season. Reed will prove a solid addition to Logan, Steed and Ha up front. Ryan Ford is a freshman in goal but Taylor has two seniors back on defense to provide experience. Greenfield will be solid again but Faith Christian of Rocky Mount should challenge in conference, Taylor sees the Chargers finishing anywhere from second to fourth.

Goldsboro, Princeton and North Duplin do not field soccer teams.