Wv, EV Face Frontier League Foes With Lots Of Youth

The Frontier League boys soccer race could scarcely have been closer last year.

East Valley won the regular season title, finishing ahead of Cheney by a mere point. The Knights then lost 1-0 to fourth-place West Valley in a state-qualifying playoff game.

It continued a history of post-season frustration by league champions.

The Blackhawks also beat third-place Riverside-Deer Park just 1-0 and needed two overtimes to subdue the Eagles for state seeding.

This year, the champion in the four-team league is protected in playoffs, needing to lose twice. Cheney is the heavy favorite over youngish WV and EV teams.

But as past seasons have shown, anything is possible.

Knights build around five vets

Team colors aside, coach Jim Spencer said of this year’s EV team, “we’re pretty green.”

Five and perhaps six veteran players are all that remain from last year’s senior-dominated champs.

They include four-year starter and three-time All-Frontier player Randy Pratt, along with Chris Bowen, Ryan Dennison, Sean Lanphere and sophomore Jason Fletcher, all defenders.

“Defense is pretty solid,” said Spencer.

Spencer would feel even better if sophomore Nikko Gibson, a starter last year, decides to come back out. He’d join seniors John Shogren, James Pruitt and Bret Fenton, sophomores Alfy Szafransky and Randy Mallotte, and freshman Jesse Morris in midfield.

At forward is freshman Chaz Valdes, a stepbrother of graduated four-year players Jamie and Gabe Escobar. He joins senior letterman Rob Christianson, junior Jason Trotter, sophomores Dan Waggoner and David Ettinger up front.

Spencer’s concern was replacing Gabe Escobar in goal, but freshman Ben Tesch, sophomore Jacob Morris and senior Matt Sellwood have allayed his fears.

“All three of these kids looks better than I had hoped,” he said. “They just need game experience.”

That can be said for the bulk of the Knight lineup. Spencer is optimistic. “Overall our quickness is as good as last year and we’re not lacking skills,” he said. “We just need time together and by mid-season could develop.”

WV team, like others, is young

The trend at West Valley is seniorless athletic teams and boys soccer is no exception.

“We have only two seniors who played last year,” said coach Dirk Linton.

One is Brian Blood, who missed much of last year with an injury. The other is Clark Rogers who, like Blood, plays fullback.

Veterans from last year’s state qualifier are senior fullbacks Josh Nicholas and Dave Hamlin, junior forwards Tony Wacenske, another who was sidelined by injury much of the year, and Ty Roberts, sophomore midfielder Stuart Cameron and fullback Josh Kane.

“He’s probably our most exciting player to watch,” said Linton.

Junior goal keeper Nick Brumback was the team’s backup last year.

Newcomers are senior defenders Nick Saba and Dustin Barton, junior forward Justin Demke, sophomores Mike Shafer and Adam Roberts in midfield, Andy Simpson and John Focht at fullback, and freshman midfielder Scott Sorensen.

“Last year, 75 percent of Cheney’s scoring against us came on throw-ins,” said Linton. “If we can keep those out of the net, we can win league.”

, DataTimes