Cv, U-Hi Expecting Strong Teams
4A Soccer Roundup
Central Valley’s and University’s boys soccer coaches both accomplished amazing things with the schools’ girls programs last fall.
CV’s Craig Griffiths took the Bears to the first round of the State 4A tournament for the first time in school history.
His counterpart at U-Hi, Brandon Deyarmin, directed the Titans to their first Greater Spokane League title and the first round of state.
And both coaches should have competitive boys teams this spring.
CV finished fifth in the GSL in 1998 and had a 7-8 overall record. The Bears qualified for district for the first time in six years.
U-Hi tied with Lewis and Clark for seventh in the league but has eight starters back.
Gonzaga Prep has five starters and 11 letter winners returning after a fourth-place league finish in ‘98.
Family ties at U-Hi
The Titans have three sets of brothers in their starting lineup. Senior Grant Falco, a first-team all-league pick last season and the team’s leading scorer, will be joined by his sophomore brother Tyler Falco, a midfielder/defender.
Senior midfielder Paul Hatcher and sophomore midfielder/defender Ben Hatcher is another brother duo along with Ben Tarbutton and Scott Tarbutton, a senior defender and a sophomore midfielder, respectively.
“We are very offense oriented and are a strong attacking team,” Deyarmin said. “We have good scorers returning.”
There’s some work to do on defense, he said, as the fullbacks are young and in new positions.
Senior Dustin Warwick will start in goal after playing marking back in the defense last season.
CV has depth
The Bears have 12 returning letter winners and seven starters back. Their strength is in the midfield, Griffiths said.
“CV boys soccer should be able to compete well with anyone in the league,” the coach said. “We’re a solid team both offensively and defensively.”
Varsity returners include senior defenders Brandon Martin and Charles Whipple, senior forward Ben Zimmerman, senior midfielder Mitch White, junior defender Casey Hatch, junior midfielders Andy Cooper, Mike Balcomb and Andy Sather, junior forward Matt Johnson, junior goalkeeper Travis Johnson and sophomore midfielder Blair Van Antwerp.
Newcomers are sophomore goalie Matt Minnihan, freshman goalie Steven Johnson, junior defenders Jeff Niehenke and Sean Stuart, sophomore forward Mike Lewis, sophomore midfielder Ryan Hartshorn, freshman midfielder Peter Peterson, senior defender Ian Taskila and senior defender Brian Stewart.
The Bears hosted Eisenhower in a non-league game Friday night.
Pups players are `old’
Though Prep lost eight starters from last season’s team that finished fourth in the GSL, coach Christian Birrer still has an “old” team.
Five starters and 11 lettermen are back.
But Birrer’s “old” team also is somewhat inexperienced, the coach said.
“We have a lot of older kids but that’s kind of misleading because a lot haven’t played much or don’t have any varsity experience,” Birrer said. “Our experience is in age but not in games.”
Prep’s returning starters are senior defenders Eric Byrd and Pat Webinger, junior forwards Prescott Smith and Nick Ascolese and senior midfielder Mik Baltins. Ascolese was a first-team all-GSL pick last season and led the Bullpups in scoring with 18 goals.
Other returning players are senior midfielders Brad Little, Brandon Janosky and Tony Hertel, senior defenders Mike Butler and Derek Fausett and junior midfielder Jose Butler.
Rounding out the roster are junior midfielders Nick Jordan, Clint Roberts and Brian Miller, senior defender Mark Rucker, junior defender Greg Healy, junior goalkeeper Garret McQuesten and freshmen John Buller (midfielder) and Jason Legg (goalie).
Birrer said it’s hard to tell which teams will finish where.
“The talent around the league is fairly spread out,” he said. “So predicting outcomes will be difficult.”
The Bullpups open their season at 11 a.m. at home against Bellarmine Prep. They beat the Tacoma team 4-1 last season.
“That will be a good measuring stick for us early in the season,” Birrer said.