WASHINGTON —
As the 2012 boys soccer season approaches, Washington and Washington Catholic look to improve on two impressive 2011 seasons.
The Hatchets, led by former player and current head coach Quintin Myers, continue to pursue their first state championship in their program’s history. After Washington Catholic head coach Wayne Neace saw his team experience the best season in program history a year ago, he believes the program will only get better in the coming years.
Washington
After a 2011 season that ended earlier than they would have liked, the Washington High School boys soccer team is back and gearing up for another run at a state championship.
Under the leadership of head coach Quintin Myers, the Hatchets are trying to rebound from last season’s disappointing sectional loss in pursuit of their first state championship. Despite playing for the state championship five times prior in the program’s history, Myers said every Hatchet is eager to be the first to bring the state championship home to Washington.
“The players know every year we have the highest expectations of them,” Myers said.
After losing eight seniors off of last year’s team, Myers has seen several players step up thus far in practice to take over leadership roles and he has been especially impressed by one player, in particular.
“Francisco Rodriguez has made a big jump, as a sophomore I see him as a striker for the varsity,” Myers said. “Also guys that I knew would be there such as Wilber Hernandez and Wilfo Serrano have made big jumps in their games and they are becoming big leaders on this team. I knew they were good, but they have stepped it up even further.”
As the Hatchets get ready for the season, Myers said working on communication on the field is something of extreme importance.
“Since we lost so many players last year this group hasn’t played together and they’re not all on the same page yet and since they can’t all play club together, they’ve all been on different teams,” Myers said. “We had five or six summer games and now they’re kind of getting on the same page and once the season gets going they’ll figure their runs out.”
Washington Catholic
After winning their first sectional in the history of the boy’s soccer program in 2011 head coach Wayne Neace believes his team is capable of big things in 2012.
Neace, knows that the five graduated seniors and German exchange student Jonny Discher will be missed, but he thinks the Cardinals offense could be just as explosive as the 2011 product that scored 98 goals enroute to a 17-1-1 record.
Entering his third year as the Cardinals head coach, Neace sees the success that they have had over the last two years will help his team not only this year but in the years to come as well.
“The first two years I think we only lost one game in the regular season and it was Jasper that beat us in sectional, and then last year the only game we lost was in the regional,” Neace said. “We have high expectations for everyone and especially this year’s senior class, they will probably win more games in their four-year career than what our program had since 1994. When I took over the program the record was 45-75 and the group of freshman now will probably have 45 wins by the time they are done.”
The 2012 Washington Catholic squad will feature seven seniors, the largest during Neace’s tenure and all but one have played travel soccer. Neace said that a majority of their scoring a year ago came from those seven seniors, the five graduating seniors were on defense. The only hole that will need to be filled on offense, according to Neace, was left by Discher who accounted for 12 goals.
“Offensively we have got the power if we can figure out the defensive line, which could be young and that’s where playing those preseason games has helped us out,” Neace said.
Local Sports
Related Photos
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Washington senior Wilfo Serrano practices conditioning Tuesday at Lena Dunn Elementary School. Dennis Glade
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Washington Catholic's Brantly Smith dribbles the ball past defender Luke Fields during practice at Rees Field. Dennis Glade
Discussion
Hatchets, Cardinals look to improve on past success
Area Boys Soccer Preview
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Wagler, Stoll pace Vikings
Brandon Wagler and Myron Stoll each hit three-run home runs as Barr-Reeve defeated Eastern Greene, 15-3, in six innings Monday.
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WHS camp is Monday
The Washington Hatchet's Summer Tennis Camp begins Monday at the Lena Dunn Elementary School courts.
Boys and girls entering grades three through eight this coming school year wishing to participate may register when the camp begins at 9 a.m. The camp continues each day until 10:30 a.m. through Thursday.
Each player should bring a racket (one can be provided), a towel and a water bottle.
The cost of the camp is $25 per person. Checks should be made to WHS Boys Tennis. -
Washington Catholic High School is seeking coaches for the fall season.
Coaching positions open include: varsity and junior varsity volleyball; junior high volleyball, and junior high boys soccer.
Persons interested in these positions should contact athletic director John Howell at 812-254-2050, or email at jhowell@evdio.org. -
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