Schuylkill League Boys’ Soccer Semifinal Preview Capsule
When: Today, 5 p.m.
Where: Cardinal Stadium, Pine Grove
Ticket prices: $5 per adult, $3 per student
First Semifinal
Nativity (14-4, D-II champion) vs.
Blue Mountain (13-3-1, D-I wild card)
About the Hilltoppers
Head coach: Paul Datte
Probable formation: 4-5-1
Probable starters: Junior Menjivar (jr., GK), Alvaro Mendez (jr., D), Jamie Mendez (fr., D), Jose Garcia (sr., D), Adrian Datte (sr., D,), Rodrigo Sanchez (soph., MF), Alfredo Diaz (jr., MF), Javier Encalada (soph., MF), Ayden Adams (sr., MF), Cristian Vazquez (sr., MF), Ricardo Chagolla (sr., F).
Substitutes: Nick Onea, Pat Crane.
Top scorers: Chagolla (23), Diaz (15), Vazquez (11).
Between the posts: Menjivar took over in goal after starter Eric Nelson was injured vs. Lourdes on Sept. 21. Took a couple games to get his footing, but has become much more comfortable in recent weeks.
By the numbers: 78 goals for, 49 goals against, 1 shutout.
About the Eagles
Head coach: Rob Burcik
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable starters: Aaron Albertini (jr., GK), Jake Woleschok (soph., D), Ryan Brooks (jr., D), Kyle Reppy (jr., D), Jayden Foose (sr., D), Angus Fortune (sr., MF), Allister Moszcienski (jr., MF), Scott Cox (sr., MF), Ian Leiby (jr., MF), Jon Benner (jr., F), Cam Greenawalt (sr., F).
Substitutes: Mitch Yeakley, Bailey Charters, Jonathan Elliot, Patrick Seefeldt, Vito Valenti, Carlos Colindres.
Top scorers: Benner (31), Greenawalt (19).
Between the posts: Albertini leads the league with six shutouts this season. The tall junior has been one of the best keepers in the area since taking over the starting role as a sophomore.
By the numbers: 78 goals for, 28 goals against, 6 shutouts.
Notes: Biggest factor will be who’s healthy for both sides. Nativity had up to 5 starters out injured during last week of season (Adams, Nelson, Hernandez, Nechar and Encalada). Adams and Encalada are only ones likely to return tonight. Blue Mountain lost wing midfielder Mitch Yeakley vs. Pine Grove, but he should be available off the bench today. ... Blue Mountain won regular-season meeting 4-0 at Eagles’ season-opening tournament, but Nativity was playing without many of its current starters. ... Teams met in last year’s league semis, with Blue Mountain as D-I champ and Nativity as D-II wild card. Eagles won 2-1 in OT.
Lehighton (16-2, D-I champion) vs.
Schuylkill Haven (11-6-1, D-II wild card), 7 p.m.
About the Indians
Head coach: Dave Yob
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable starters: Tyler Dietz (jr., GK), Brandon Stuckley (sr., D), Josh Knappenberger (sr., D), Ben Cordova (sr., D), Haris Cokrlija (jr., D), Dylan Kleintop (sr., MF), Dan Baka (sr., MF), Zach Christoff (sr., MF), Patrick Lawler (soph., MF), Frank Bokan (jr., F), Joe Marks (sr., F).
Substitutes: Zeka Elkhyati, Luke Blisard, Matt Petit-Clair, Jake Petit-Clair, Jake Hoffner.
Top scorers: Marks (32), Bokan (27), Christoff (12).
Between the posts: Dietz was at his best in last season’s Schuylkill League playoffs and has five shutouts this season. Don’t overlook the junior’s game-saving ability amidst the Indians’ high-scoring offense.
By the numbers: 102 goals for, 27 goals against, 5 shutouts.
About the Hurricanes
Head coach: Vanco Georgevic
Probable formation: 3-5-2
Probable starters: Cole Handling (jr., GK), Hunter Romberger (sr., D), Bryce Moyer (sr., D), David Chesakis (sr., D), Ben Connors (soph., MF), Dawson Evitts (soph., MF), Roberto Uribe-Xacur (soph., MF), Jordan McClintock (sr., MF), Connor Griffiths (sr., MF), Owen Pothering (sr., F), Jake Romberger (soph., F).
Substitutes: Jon Moyer, Ty Valentine.
Top scorers: Pothering (21), Evitts (13).
Between the posts: New to goalkeeping this season, Handling has been good in net for the Hurricanes. Haven has shut out opponents in five of its last seven games. Joey McGee could also see time in net if Handling is needed in the field.
By the numbers: 56 goals for, 25 goals against, 6 shutouts.
Notes: Schuylkill Haven won scrimmage between the two teams before season began, but will likely be without senior center back Blake Handling, who was injured vs. Weatherly; and midfielder Collin Bartol. ... Lehighton has won 15 straight, last losing 6-2 at Whitehall on Sept. 11. ... Marks leads the league in scoring for second straight year. He has 31 goals and 13 assists this season. ... To go along with Lehighton’s 102 goals, the Indians have 78 assists. Bokan (16), Baka (15) and Marks (13) are 1-2-3 in the league in assists. ... Pothering and Evitts are accountable for 34 of the Schuylkill Haven’s 56 goals. ... Teams met in last year’s semis, with Haven the D-II champ and Lehighton the D-I wild card. Indians won 4-0 before beating Blue Mountain for the league title.
— Compiled by Mike Wilson