Pictured above : #0 GK Cole Kranson
Berwick:
2020 Record: 1-8-2
2021 Projected Record: 2-10
Head Coach - Calvin Valeski
Notable Players - Graham Marshman (midfielder, senior), Jack Dacier (goalkeeper, senior), Connor Mensinger (forward, junior), Angel Ayala (midfielder, junior), Luke Peters (defender, sophomore)
Notable Graduates - Sebastian Price, Caden Reader, Zecheriah Demko
We start off the Wyoming Valley Conference boy’s teams with the Bulldogs. They were one of four teams last season with only one division win. Sebastian Price, led the team with goals scored last year, and he has since graduated. Despite a not so good season in 2020, Head Coach Calvin Valeski is looking forward to this year.
"I’m excited for this year as it will be my third year in charge and I have had this core group of players since they were sophomores and freshman. We lost 8 good seniors, so the boys know they need to step it up and fill the positions that are open and I’m confident they will step in and do their best. This team is hungry, improved, and ready for the season. The WVC division is a very competitive one, always looking forward to playing these big schools.”
“My first year we went 1-16, last year 2-10-2 which resulted in a playoff birth where we gave Crestwood a solid game and I was very proud of the way the team stuck to a game plan and played their hearts out, so with that I think we gain a lot of confidence coming into this season. The boys are always looking forward to the Pittston match ups as these fixtures have become a bit of a rivalry the last couple years and the boys respond well in them. The aim for this year is to keep improving and hopefully that will result in some more favorable results!”
Crestwood:
2020 Record: 10-0-2
2021 Projected Record: 9-2-1
Head Coach - Hardy Pinto
Notable Players - Cole Kranson (goalkeeper, junior), Tyler Furedi (defender, junior), Lars Stephenson (midfielder, sophomore), James Barret (midfielder, sophomore), Aaron Gorka (junior), Colin Brogdon (junior), Hunter Rolles (senior), Ben Rossi (senior)
Notable Graduates - Nick Ruggeri, Mike Zaleski, Nico Schwartz, Trey Zabroski, Johnny Olejnik
No team ever wants to hear this, but Crestwood’s top six goal scorers in 2020 have graduated. How many goals did they score last year you ask? 53. Yeah, that’s a lot of goals. However Crestwood has proved year in and year out that they are capable of being one of the league’s strongest teams, and that still may continue. To begin things, Crestwood hired former professional soccer player Hardy Pinto as their head coach. He formerly played for Yeovil Town FC, and Dorchester FC in England.
Cole Kranson, will be one of the star players returning in 2021. He mad 48 saves last year, and kept a league leading 10 clean sheets. Lars Stephenson & James Barrett are two other players to watch out for this year. Although they didn’t make much noise in their freshman seasons, they both have Olympic Development experience and will surely make a name for themselves.
Dallas:
2020 Record: 7-2-3
2021 Projected Record: 7-4-1
Head Coach - Dawson Driscoll
Notable Players - Zach Calkins (defender, senior), Michael Bufalino (midfielder, junior), Jace Chopyak (midfielder, junior), Lucas DeRome (defender, junior)
Notable Graduates - Dylan Roberts, Cooper Lewis, Bryce Chopyak, Ethan Shilanski
Like Crestwood, the Mountaineers are also introducing a new coach for the 2021 season. Dawson Driscoll will be taking over for Chris Scharff this season. Driscoll, is a very well experienced coach with time coaching in Olympic Development Program.
Dallas’ leading goal scorer in 2020 will be returning for his junior season. Jace Chopyak scored 8 goals last season, and will be looking to add to that this year. Despite a few key players to their team last year graduating, the Mounts always have a good track record of putting together a solid team. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if they make another district playoff run.
Hazleton Area:
2020 Record: 5-6-1
2021 Projected Record: 9-3
Head Coach - Ryan Scarcella
Notable Players - Jacob Mummey (midfielder, senior), Gavin Huey (forward, junior), Nathaniel Bacon (defender, senior), Ben Schneider (senior), Tanner Paisley (senior)
Notable Graduates - Michael Mehalshick, Joseph Rosero
The Cougars look like they can be poised for a big season. Gavin Huey will be returning for his junior season. He led the team with 15 goals last season, which was good for 7th best in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Huey, combined with the rest of the returning senior cast has the makings for a big season and possibly a district championship run.
Pittston Area:
2020 Record: 1-11
2021 Projected Record: 4-8
Head Coach - Kevin Curry
Notable Players - Adam Musto (midfielder, senior), Lochlan Messner (goalkeeper, senior), Kevin Talipan (senior), Matthew Jasienski (senior), Nicholas Lombardo (senior)
Notable Graduates - Josh Noone
The Patriots will be hoping to look past the 2020 year in which they only recorded one division win. Goalkeeper Lochlan Messner made 124 saves last season, and will be looking to have another big season in 2021. Pittston does lose their leading goalscorer Josh Noone, who led the team with 14 goals last year. Adam Musto was next on the list with 6 goals scored, so he may be the man they look to for goals.
We talked to Head Coach Kevin Curry on how he thinks his team can improve this season, along with some of his thoughts.
“We finished last season with 11 eligible, healthy players so we never really had a chance to show our best team to the rest of Division 1. This year we have 12 senior players and six or seven quality underclassmen to help with depth. We have been playing out of the back more. Hopefully by being able to control the ball, we will be in closer games and yield more wins. It's definitely a make or break year and hopefully we have worked hard enough to garner respect from the rest of Division 1.”
Wilkes-Barre Area:
2020 Record: 6-4-1
2021 Projected Record: 7-4-1
Head Coach - Jack Nolan
Notable Players - Evan Corcoran (midfielder/defender, junior), Matt Anstett (defender, senior), Aiden McFarlane (striker, senior), Anthony Carino (midfielder, junior), Logan Schniekart (midfielder, senior), John Barker (midfielder, junior), Brody Walker (forward, senior)
Notable Graduates - Tanner Nilon, LaJean Berry, Saquan Portee, Nick Wartella, Jacob Cortez
During the Wolfpack’s first two seasons as a program, you can say it has ben success nonetheless. They won a district championship in 2019, and had another great season last year, but just came up short in the 4A semifinal. Tanner Nilon who was a 100 goalscorer has graduated, along with their next top goal scorers last season in Saquan Portee & LaJean Berry.
This might be a younger team, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are ready for a down year. Defender Matt Anstett is poised for another big season out of the back, along with Olympic Development player Evan Corcoran who is very versatile. We talked to Head Coach Jack Nolan about his thoughts on the upcoming season, and if the Pack can make another district playoff run.
“So, yes we did graduate 8 starters from last season. We are in a bit of a rebuilding mode. Our hope is to improve every game as we get experience. We will rely on returning captain Matt Anstett to anchor our defense and give some confidence to whoever wins our keeper position. Senior Aiden McFarlane will be our featured striker.”
“Evan Corcoran is our other returning starter who can play mid or defense and has great talent! Some others to keep an eye on are Anthony Carino, midfield, Logan Schniekart, midfielder, John Barker, Midfielder and Brody Walker forward. We have a great exhibition schedule this year with Owen J Roberts from district 1 visiting us along with Wyoming Seminary and road matches at Wyoming Area and Selinsgrove. We certainly hope to improve every game and compete for a district title!”
Wyoming Valley West:
2020 Record: 6-5-1
Projected 2021 Record: 4-7-1
Head Coach - Charlie Whited
Notable Players - Donnell Greene (defender, junior), Chris Tecotl (forward/midfielder, junior), Robbie Kachinko (midfielder, senior)
Notable Graduates - Landon Serbin, Ryan Stevens, Badu Jallow, Hunter Sgarlat, Jack Gorham, Cole Gorham
The 2021 Spartan team may look very different compared to last season. Three of their top goal scorers in Jack Gorham, Landon Serbin, and Badu Jallow have all graduated, along with defender Ryan Stevens. However, many teams in Division 1 have a good amount of players who have graduated, so it may not make the biggest difference in term of overall record.
We asked Head Coach Charlie Whited about his thoughts on the upcoming season.
“I expect to be competitive and hope to improve as the season progresses. We will be young with only 3 seniors.”
David Brigido, NEPA HS Soccer Founder
nepahighschoolsoccer@gmail.com
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