Lexington boys' city soccer teams at a glance
Bryan Station
Coach: Dan Hacker (12th season, 54-97-5)
Record: 6-8-2 (lost in district semifinals)
Top players: John Grigsby (jr., forward); Richard Marx (jr., forward); Adrian Scaife (jr., goalkeeper); Adam Kline (sr., defender); Cesar Gomez (sr., defender).
Outlook: Although the roster is dominated by juniors, Coach Dan Hacker can rely on seniors Max Shier, Adam Kline and Cesar Gomez to control the defense. "Richard Marx gets to return to his natural position at forward and should complement (John) Grigsby nicely," Hacker said. Grigsby made second-team all-city last year. Marx moved to goalkeeper after Adrian Scaife suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first match of the season. Hacker says "a healthy Scaife will be one of the strongest keepers in the city, both fundamentally and athletically." The key may be the play of midfielders, including sophomores Bailey Shier and J'Juan Sleet, with juniors Eddie Morales, Miguel Franco and Jose Rojas.
Defenders' schedule
Aug. 16 — at Eastern, 7:30; 23 — Paul Dunbar, 8; 25 — at Sayre, 6:15; 29 — at Lincoln Co., 5:30; 30 — at Tates Creek, 7:30.
Sept. 1 — Henry Clay, 8; 8 — at Lafayette, 8; 13 — at Scott Co., 7:30; 15 — Bath Co., 6; 22 — Estill Co., 6:15; 27 — Lexington Christian, 8; 29 — at Model, 5:30.
Oct. 1 — Pleasure Ridge Park, noon; 4 — Iroquois, 6; 6 — Perry Co. Central, 6.
Henry Clay
Coach: Tim Bernardi (sixth season, 66-35-9)
Record: 19-6-1 (state champion)
Top players: John Manga (sr., forward); Addison Manley (jr., defender); Connor Lakofka (jr., midfielder); Matt Harris (jr., defender); Bilemba Kaumba, sr., midfielder).
Outlook: Returning four starters from last year's state championship team gives the Blue Devils a solid core. "We return our leading goal-scorer for the last two years in John Manga and State Tournament MVP, defender Addison Manley," Coach Tim Bernardi said. "Graduating our goalkeeper and two other integral pieces of last year's defense could make for some growing pains early on as younger players look to mesh with the returning ones." Taking over in goal will be John Paul Jikang.
Blue Devils' schedule
Aug. 15 — vs. Ryle, 8*; 17 — vs. Lafayette, 8*; 20 — Manual, 8:30 a.m.*; 23 — Lexington Catholic, 8; 25 — Paul Dunbar, 8.
Sept. 1 — at Bryan Station, 8; 2 — Evansville (Ind.) Memorial, 8#; 3 — Crown Point (Ind.), 11 a.m.#; 3 — Castle (Ind.), 6#; 13 — at Tates Creek, 8; 15 — Shelby Co., 8; 20 — at Scott Co., 7:30; 27 — Sayre, 8; 29 — East Jessamine, 8.
Oct. 4 — Woodford Co., 8; 6 — Somerset, 7.
* — Fayette Co. iHigh Frenzy at Lafayette; # — Evansville (Ind.) Memorial Tournament.
Lafayette
Coach: Chris Grimm (fourth season, 24-19-16)
Record: 11-5-6 (lost in district semifinals)
Top players: Rafael Vasquez (sr., midfielder); Ryan Oppegard (sr., defender); Guillermo Clemente (jr., midfielder/forward); Adam Allen (jr., midfielder); Curtis Daniel (jr., goalkeeper).
Outlook: The Generals boast a deep and experienced roster. "I expect to have a strong technical team that will have to rely on ball movement instead of brute force," Coach Chris Grimm said. "We have some holes to fill, especially in losing four-year varsity starter Max Robinson and one of our stabilizing forces along the back line in Chase Johnson." Lafayette returns its leading scorer in first-team all-city pick Guillermo Clemente; its assists leader in Rafael Vasquez; a goalkeeper who tied for second-most shutouts in the state last season, Curtis Daniel; a two-year starter in Adam Allen; and team captain Ryan Oppegard, who was honorable mention all-state last year.
Generals' schedule
Aug. 15 — vs. Manual, 6:15*; 17 — vs. Henry Clay, 8*; 20 — vs. Ryle, 12:30*; 23 — Western Hills, 8; 25 — East Jessamine, 8; 30 — at Lexington Catholic, 7:30.
Sept. 2 — vs. North Oldham, 7#; 3 — vs. Bowling Green, 10 a.m.#; 3 — vs. Bourbon Co., 6#; 6 — Tates Creek, 8; 8 — Bryan Station, 8; 13 — Paul Dunbar, 8; 15 — at Lexington Christian, 7:30; 17 — at West Jessamine, 7:30; 21 — at Madison Central, 8; 22 — at Danville, 8:15.
Oct. 1 — at Campbell Co., 1; 4 — Montgomery Co., 8; 6 — at Oldham Co., 7:45.
* — Fayette Co. iHigh Frenzy at Lafayette; # — Purples Classic at Bowling Green
Lexington Catholic
Coach: Greg Hilvers (fourth season, 32-25-6)
Record: 6-11-3 (lost in first round of district)
Top players: Henry Stephens (sr., defender); Danny Veech (jr., goalkeeper); Andrew Yackzan (jr., midfielder); Jackson Rowady (jr., midfielder); Ini Okpokho (jr., forward).
Outlook: In addition to taking on state opponents, the Knights will visit teams in Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. "Our team was very young last year," Coach Greg Hilvers said. "We have gained experience over the course of the last year and are looking to compete strongly with every team on a difficult schedule."
Knights' schedule
Aug. 16 — St. Henry, 7:30; 20 — at Huntington (W.Va.), noon; 23 — at Henry Clay, 8; 25 — at Lexington Christian, 7:30; 27 — at Moeller (Ohio), 3; 30 — Lafayette, 7:30.
Sept. 6 — at Paul Dunbar, 8; 9-10 — TBA*; 15 — at East Jessamine, 7:30; 17 — at Tates Creek, 8; 20 — West Jessamine, 7:30; 22 — Covington Catholic, 7:15; 29 — Woodford Co., 7:30.
Oct. 1 — Manual, noon; 8 — at St. Xavier, 1.
* — Great Midwest Classic at Indianapolis
Lexington Christian
Coach: Danny Harvey (first season)
Record: 8-13-1 (lost in first round of district)
Top players: Nick Puleo (sr., defender); Jake Nichols (sr., defender); Zach Braun (soph., midfielder); Thomas Wier (jr., midfielder).
Outlook: The Eagles' first-year coach, Danny Harvey, arrived from North Carolina only a few weeks ago so he says its difficult to gauge the landscape, "but I think we can be competitive in every game we play. It's a talented group but we're also somewhat young. I think the key to being successful will be the cohesiveness of the group."
Eagles' schedule
Aug. 18 — at Montgomery Co., 7:30; 23 — at Clark Co., 7:30; 25 — Lexington Catholic, 7:30; 30 — at Harrison Co., 7:30; 31 — vs. Owen Co., 8*.
Sept. 2 — TBA*; 6 — at East Jessamine, 7:30; 8 — at Model, 5:30; 13 — Corbin, 7:30; 15 — Lafayette, 7:30; 16-17 — All "A" Tournament finals; 20 — at Paul Dunbar, 8; 22 —Pendleton Co., 7:30; 27 — at Bryan Station, 8; 29 — Tates Creek, 7.
Oct. 1 — Pikeville, 11 a.m.; 4 — at West Jessamine, 7:30; 6 — Boyle Co., 7:30.
* — All "A" Classic at Capitol View Park, Frankfort; # — Stonerside Cup at Bourbon Co.
Paul Dunbar
Coach: Todd Bretz (22nd season, 332-120-27)
Record: 19-3-3 (lost in state quarterfinals)
Top players: Austin Miller (sr., midfielder); Todd Montgomery (sr., defender); Kenneth Johnson (sr., defender); Jon Hurley (sr., goalkeeper).
Outlook: "We graduated nine starters and 12 seniors from last year's team, so we will be very young," Bretz said. "That will be both our strength and our weakness. With young players, we will play with a lot of enthusiasm, but we will make a lot of mistakes." As his career record attests, Bretz has a knack for bringing out the best in the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs' schedule
Aug. 16 — vs. Male, 8*; 18 — vs. Dunbar, 8*; 20 — vs. Central Hardin, 10:30 a.m.*; 23 — at Bryan Station, 8; 25 — at Henry Clay, 8; 30 — Scott Co., 8.
Sept. 6 — Lexington Catholic, 8; 8 — at East Jessamine, 7:30; 13 — at Lafayette, 8; 15 — at West Jessamine, 7:30; 20 — Lexington Christian, 8; 27 — Woodford Co., 8; 30 — vs. TBA#.
Oct. 1 — vs. TBA#; 4 — South Oldham, 8; 6 — at St. Henry, 7.
* — Fayette Co. iHigh Frenzy at Lafayette; # — Gateway Classic at St. Louis
Sayre
Coach: Joe Porter (fourth season, 20-28-6)
Record: 3-12-0 (lost in first round of district)
Top players: Henry Garrett (jr., defender/midfielder); Allen Prewitt (jr., forward); Taylor Absher (soph., midfielder/forward); Harrison Dunn (soph., forward).
Outlook: That the Spartans are relatively young usually would be cause for concern, but that is offset somewhat in that most of the young players saw significant minutes last season. Coach Joe Porter likes his team's determination and talent. "Though we are a bit undersized, it will yield itself to a quick and high-paced passing game that we will try to use to our advantage," Porter said. "Despite the size and age disadvantage, this may be the most technically skilled team that I have had in four years."
Spartans' schedule
Aug. 16 — Anderson Co., 6; 18 — at Clark Co., 6; 23 — at Pulaski Co., 6:30; 25 — Bryan Station, 6:15; 31 — vs. Frankfort, 6*.
Sept. 1 — vs. Berea, 6*; 2 — vs. TBA, 6*; 6 — Scott Co., 5:30; 8 — Tates Creek, 6:15; 13 — Harrison Co., 5:30; 27 — at Henry Clay, 8; 29 — at Bourbon Co., 7.
Oct. 5 — at Shelby Co., 7; 6 — at Montgomery Co., 7.
* — All "A" Classic at Capitol View Park, Frankfort
Tates Creek
Coach: Brandon Turek (third season, 16-17-8)
Record: 9-7-2 (lost in region finals)
Top players: Grant Honaker (sr., defender); Hesham Shalash (sr., midfielder); Matt Williams (sr., forward); Jamie Gullo (sr., defender); Kevin Virgin (sr., midfielder); Daniel Esteban (jr., forward).
Outlook: The Commodores lost a dozen players to graduation. Coach Brandon Turek says his team is not especially technical, fast or outstanding at any of the positions but "we really are a team, though, in every sense of the word. ... I think it will be a fun year. Just looking to get some experience and to try to carry us through into the post-season." Jamie Gullo, all-city honorable mention last year, helps anchor the defense.
Commodores' schedule
Aug. 16 — vs. Central Hardin, 6:15*; 18 — vs. Dunbar, 8*; 20 — vs. Male, 2*; 22 — Montgomery Co., 8; 25 — at Western Hills, 8; 30 — Bryan Station, 7:30.
Sept. 2 — vs. Evansville (Ind.) Mater Dei, 6#; 3 — vs. Evansville (Ind.) Harrison, 9 a.m.#; 3 — vs. Lake Central (Ind.), 4#; 6 — at Lafayette, 8; 8 — at Sayre, 5:30; 13 — Henry Clay, 8; 15 — Scott Co., 8; 17 — Lexington Catholic, 8; 20 — at Woodford Co., 8; 22 — Bourbon Co., 7:45; 27 — at Madison Central, 8; 29 — at Lexington Christian, 7:30.
Oct. 4 — Franklin Co., 8.
* — Fayette Co. iHigh Frenzy at Lafayette; # — Indiana-Kentucky Challenge at Evansville, Ind.
This story was originally published August 16, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Lexington boys' city soccer teams at a glance."