Area Teams Gear Up for Soccer Season

The 2010 season included many highlights for the MICDS soccer team, including wins against large school powers Vianney, Eureka and Hazelwood West.

The campaign ended though on a sour note as the Rams fell in the district championship game against Clayton after a thrilling semifinal victory over Westminster Christian Academy.

"We had some strong individuals who also played within the team concept," said MICDS coach Terry Murray, who begins his 10th season on the bench. "I was very pleased overall as we continue to grow as a program."

There were some key losses, including leading scorer Carson Pryor and Charlie Curtis. They combined for 33 of the team's 53 goals.

"Those guys are going to be hard to replace," Murray said. "Carson was a good finisher and Charlie was the real glue that kept the team together."

Senior Nick Rizzo is a returning player with proven goal scoring ability. He scored 12 goals and added 14 assists. No other returning player had more than three goals.

"We are going to need to create some goals," said Murray, whose team finished 14-8-1 last season.

Senior Sam Streett and junior Peyton Mach will hope to help Rizzo out with the scoring.

The Rams have a veteran team with 16 seniors. Goalkeeper Christopher Yount returns. He played all but one game last season.

The defense is very experienced with returning senior starters Bryan Thompon, Jimmy DesPain and Chris Brown. Senior Krishna Kumar is a nice addition. He transferred from Priory last year and becomes eligible this season.

"I think most of the teams in the new Metro League are similar teams and we hope to set the standard of always competing in the conference," Murray said. "We want to show a good brand of soccer and at least duplicate what we did last year. It would be great to get back to the district finals and hopefully have a different result."

The Rams open the 2011 season as they host a six-team tournament which also includes John Burroughs, Ladue, Clayton, Kennedy and Affton. The Rams open against Clayton Aug. 30.

Burroughs Bombers

John Burroughs finished with a 7-11-4 record last year with an extremely young squad which featured four freshmen and four sophomores in the starting lineup.

Those players return as do a couple of key players who were injured last season.

"I am real excited about this season," Bombers coach Alan Trzecki said. "The guys came in more fit than they had in the past and I am excited to see how things will develop after a year's experience and growth."

Senior forward Houston Sudekum returns for his fourth year on the varsity team. He will be joined up front by senior Simon Sandler and sophomore Stephen McMillian. Sandler missed much of last season with an injury. McMillian, who is a tremendous prospect, missed all of the season after a hip replacement.

The Bombers have a lot of starting experience in both the midfield and backfield. Junior Ty Trzecki and sophomores Ethan Matthew and Francisco Sanchez are back in the midfield while juniors Danny Nightingale and J.R. Latta and sophomore Joe Renner return in the backfield.

The big question mark is in goal as seniors Alex Spencer and Josh Gollub compete for the job with little experience.

"We hope to play attractive, attacking soccer," Trzecki said. "Our goal is to be competitive with all the teams on our schedule."

John Burroughs opens in the MICDS Tournament Aug. 30 against Ladue.

Ladue Rams

Ladue coach Matt Prange hopes that his team can approach the level of the teams in 2007 and 2008 which won the Suburban South Conference championship.

"I love winning as much as the next guy but I know that at the end of the season banquet that I can always say good things about my boys to their parents," Prange said. "I never have to worry about grades or the way they behave on the bus. I think I have a group which is very similar to last year. We should be in most of our games. I think we have 10 one-goal games last year. The question is going to be putting the ball in the net. I like the soccer skills I have seen so far. We just need to find that goal scorer."

Seniors Sam Selzer and Gus Alisio are two players who could fill that role up top.

The Rams do have the luxury of experience in goal as senior Joe Lombard returns for his third season as starter.

Senior Alex Shimony anchors the backfield.

"The last couple of years we have finished in the bottom half of the conference," Prange said. "The goal this year is to get back in the top half of the Suburban South."

Ladue opens its 2011 campaign in the Quincy Tournament. The Rams play St. Ignatius of Chicago on Aug. 26.