Gremlins poised for even more success

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

August 28, 2007 Last Updated: August 28, 2007 01:45 PM High School

Graduating nearly its entire lineup from the year before, the Karns City boys soccer team anticipated a bit of a down year in 2006.

Some down year.

The Gremlins wound up winning 16 of 18 games and capturing their third consecutive Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference championship.

They return this fall with no graduation losses, a pair of 20-plus goal scorers in Aaron McGarvey and Chris Harmon, and lofty expectations.

"The key to victory for us this year is jelling as a team to go with all that experience," eighth-year coach Roy Parker said. "We need to stand solid as a unit in the face of any adversity.

"If we're not in the district title game this year, I'll be disappointed."

Parker emphasized how tricky District 9 postseason play can be since Karns City doesn't see a lot of the playoff opposition until then.

"We've split with Northern Potter the past couple of years and we never have any idea what they have," the coach said. "Kane will be one of the elite teams in the district this year. Redbank Valley and DuBois Central will be awfully good, too."

Here is a look at area boys soccer for 2007:

• Coach: Troy Mohney, second year• Last Year: 20-3-1, 17-1-1 in section, third in WPIAL• Key Losses: Ben Horner (Duquesne), Doug Moran (Lock Haven), KevinMcCune (Lock Haven), Wade Grubbs (Westminster), Ryan Geist, Tim Duffy, Jack Peluso-Hoffman• Key Players: Midfielder Ryan Armahizer (senior) 8 goals, defender-midfielder Taylor Blose (senior), midfielder Andrew Schnur (senior)tri-captains; goalie Zeke O'Donnell (senior), defender Matt Kreutzer (senior), defender Drew Donoghue (junior), defender-forward Jake Huey (senior), forward Jake Campbell (junior), midfielder Blake McChesney (junior), midfielder Alex Krouse (senior, midfielder Ryan Hohn (senior), midfielder-forward Ryan Berger (senior), midfielder Troy Reinsel (senior), midfielder Alex Sintz (senior)• Mohney says: "We need different guys to step up this year, but I feel good about that. Doug Moran scored 23 goals for us last year and no one player in our lineup is going to do that this year. We have to be balanced. We've battled for the section title the past two years and we want to continue playing at that level."

• Coach: Chris McGrady, 13th year• Last Year: 14-5, missed playoffs by one game• Key Losses: Mike Woitas (Pitt-Greensburg), BryanHuth, Ryan Fogarty, Patrick Spangler, Andrew Kennihan• Key Players: Midfielder Pete Cline (senior)20 assists, sweeper Adam Bombalski (junior), forward Ryan Scheestel (junior) 10 goals, Defender-midfielder John Bercik (junior), midfielder John Reichenbaugh (junior), defender Kaleb Cypher (senior), defender Andrew Doerfler (junior), midfielder Cameron Kirkland (junior), midfielder Mike DeFrancisis (soph.)• McGrady says: "With eight returning starters, we've got good personnel back and the team attitude has been good in camp. We open section play with Mars and Hampton, so we'll find out how we stack up pretty quickly."

• Coach: Brian Beil, sixth year• Last Year: 14-3-2, eliminated in first round of playoffs• Key Losses: Gordon Craig, Nico Hutchinson, Nick Arnold• Key Players: Backer Matt Kiser (senior), midfielder Mark Jaskowak (soph.), midfielder Jordan Nichols (senior) 8 goals, goalie Justin Gildersleeve (senior)• Beil says: "We graduated seven seniors, but have a talented corps coming back. We're young in terms of age and experience, but it's a solid, capable group and the playoffs are our first goal."

• Coach: Roy Parker, eighth year• Last Year: 16-2, KSACchampions• Key Losses: None• Key Players: Midfielder-forward Aaron McGarvey (junior) 26 goals, midfielder-forward Chris Harmon (senior) 21 goals, midfielder Gary Terwilliger (senior), defender Charlie Beck (senior), defender John Burns (junior), defender Zach Sadowski (senior), defender Cody Zabicki (senior), midfielder Timmy Johnston (junior), goalie Josh Grenninger (junior)• Parker says: "Our team lacked experience last year, but had loads of talent. We have all that depth back and a lot of talented ninth graders. Hopefully, we'll play to the level of our own expectations."

• Coach: Doug Wood, second year• Last Year: 11-7, eliminated in first round of playoffs• Key Losses: Scott Herman (Slippery Rock University), Eric Paul, Nathan Geibel (Wheeling Jesuit)• Key Players: Midfielder Buddy Carr (senior) 8 goals, midfielder Doug Vogus (senior), goalie Steve Frey (senior), midfielder Adam Sharbaugh (junior) 4 goals, midfielder Travis Tasker (junior), defender Jordan Kennedy (junior), forward C.J. Wise (senior), forward Kevin Wood (soph.), defender Michael Hook (junior)• Wood says: "We lost nine seniors and that will be difficult to overcome. Our strength is our work ethic and our play as a team. We don't have one superstar, just a well-balanced team, and that's a joy as a coach."

• Coach: Chris Knauff, first year• Last Year: One section loss, eliminated in second round of WPIALplayoffs• Key Losses: Mark Dressel, Nick Perri, Bobby McKinney• Key Players: Defender Jack Leslie (soph,), forward Ryan McKenzie (soph.), midfielder Andrew Glavin (senior) 15 goals, midfielder Andy Knauff (junior), center-midfielder Scott Sowers (junior)• Knauff says: "We've made the playoffs the last four years and this is as good a chance as we've ever had to go deep into the playoffs."

• Coach: George Williams, 13th year• Last Year: 7-10-2, 4-5-1 in section• Key Losses: R.J. Case, K.J. Gorman, Matt Jones, Kyle Connell, Kevin Berlin, Zack Salopek, Scott Faller, A.J. Anderson• Key Players: Forward Ryan Zipf (senior) 11 goals, 3 assists, midfielder Justin Geier (senior), back Ethan Richter (senior), goalie Mike Stevens (senior), midfielder Kevin Andreone (junior), back Tyler Izenas (soph.), midfielder Chas Elliott (junior)• Williams says: "All of the guys in the back saw time last year, so we have a strong back four. Zipf is a big, strong player and the key to our offense. I'm optimistic about this year. We want to get back to the playoffs and the first step is starting out playing some good soccer."

• Coach: Anthony Buzard, fourth year• Last Year: 16-3-1, eliminated in first round of playoffs• Key Losses: Matt Durso, Craig Bicehouse, Sean Gercken, Min-Woo Chung• Key Players: Striker Mike Ramirez (junior) 20 goals, striker Ryan Gercken (senior) 27 goals, Goalie Abir Chatterjee (senior), Defender Josh Powell (senior• Buzard says: "We're returning a lot of lettermen and our team is going to be strong. Our best defenders are back and with experience. We're hoping to win our region and contend for the district championship."