SPASH soccer has familiar faces for quest of conference title By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Stevens Point Area Senior High boys soccer team has a new team program that is handed out to spectators at games. But with 15 returnees from last year's Wisconsin Valley Conference championship team, including six starters, fans won't find too many fresh faces in the book this season. The veteran team, which includes no sophomores, will try to continue SPASH's 22-game Valley regular season winning streak. "The expectations are that we should do well," SPASH coach Mike Madigan said. "Based on paper, and paper is what it's worth, they should be able to compete with anybody in the conference. "The key is how they build the chemistry with this group of players." The Panthers should know each other very well, since only four players are new to the varsity level. Senior midfielders Adam Bale and Chris Bale are back in the starting lineup, as is senior forward/midfielder Noah Jakusz. Senior Cheng Vang returns as a forward, senior marking back Mark Terzynski is back, as well as sweeper Zach Irons. Other seniors who are returning are midfielder Marty Schultz, forward/midfielder Chris Beeken, forward Aaron Huser and marking back Ge Vang. Senior goalkeeper Brian King, who backed up the graduated Jesse Miech last year, takes over the starting job. "Jesse Miech was in the program for four years and didn't start until his senior season. We have had some good goalkeepers over the years," Madigan said. A quartet of juniors return: Dan Schmeeckle (forward), Justin Pelizza (stopper/center midfielder), Tunde Olatunji (marking back) and Owen Nitka (marking back/stopper). "We have a lot of really talented scorers, people that have shown in the past that they can score," Madigan said. The five newcomers are: senior Steve Baumhofer (center midfielder) and juniors Jay Nygaard (marking back), Dan Tieney (midfielder), Sean Keene (sweeper) and Ryan Burhite (goalie). "I have 12 seniors on varsity and no sophomores on varsity. It's the first time I haven't had sophomores since I've been coaching here," Madigan said. "It's not that the sophomores aren't talented." The Panthers will battle with Wisconsin Rapids and Wausau West for the conference title while Rhinelander and D.C. Everest could also be in the mix. "Rapids always has a tough team, no matter what. Wausau West and Rapids are always going to be there," Madigan said. Pacelli The Cardinals are now in the WIAA, but the only difference for Pacelli will be at the end of the season. Pacelli is staying in the same conference and has a very similar schedule. The team has six returning starters - seniors Dustin Fonte, Lyndsey Gagas, Andy Kedrowski, George McCorkell and Josh Schloesser, and junior Mike Proulx. Sophomores Dylan Rath, Carrie Rath, Carrie Saeger, Erin Van Hammond, Cassie Phillips and Tyler Kruzicki are also back after playing at the varsity level a year ago. Junior Dan Mahoney, a newcomer, is expected to contribute. "I feel our seniors can be key players. They're a good bunch of kids," Pacelli assistant coach Ralph Gagas said. "I don't know what to expect in the WIAA. Our schedule has pretty much the same teams we played against last year. "We've improved from last year, as far as our younger players." Tyler Kruzicki takes over the reigns at goalkeeper from Kurt Kramer, who was a senior last year. "He's young, but he's matured and improved over the last year," Gagas said. In the conference, Gagas said Waupaca will be strong again and Marshfield Columbus will also be near the top. "I think we're going to play with them. We're not going to back down," Gagas said. "We have a well-rounded team. There's going to be enough experience. If we play people in right position we're going to be strong defensively and offensively as well." With the Cardinals in the WIAA, soccer is a boys sport in the fall. Because Pacelli doesn't offer girls soccer in the spring, there are girls on the Cardinals' team. In fact, Lyndsey Gagas starts for Pacelli. "I think we're one of two teams in the state (to have girls)," Gagas said. "However, I think we're the only team that has a girl as a starter."