Sunday, August 24, 2003

By Joe Greiner, Tri-State Sports & News Service

Mt. Lebanon boys' soccer coach Ron Wilcher doesn't believe he has a dominant scoring forward. But as a team, the Blue Devils might dominate like no other in the WPIAL.

Mt. Lebanon is favored to win the WPIAL Class AAA championship for the second year in a row, and the Blue Devils are the Post-Gazette's preseason No. 1 team.

"I don't think we'll be a complacent team," Wilcher said. "These kids have a real passion for the game. This team has really been gearing for this year. They're anxious to play."

	PLAYERS TO WATCH Name School Yr. Pos. Steve Basheda Mt. Lebanon Sr. G Nick Christy Shaler Sr. Fwd Rich Costanzo Thomas Jefferson Sr. Fwd-Mid John DelGreco Baldwin Sr. Fwd Adam Gazda Chartiers Valley Jr. Fwd Pat Kerr Mt. Lebanon Sr. Mid Greg Lani Moon Jr. Mid Matt Langton Mt. Lebanon Sr. Mid Travis MacKenzie Chartiers Valley Sr. Mid Angelo Mastrogiacomo Plum Sr. Mid Pat McAfee Plum Jr. Fwd-Mid Brian Midock Fox Chapel Sr. Def Evan Picard Pine-Richland Sr. Fwd Ted Sheedy Fox Chapel Sr. G Fritz Woelfel Shady Side Academy Sr. G Boys' Soccer Rankings (2002-2003)

Six senior starters return from last year: midfielder Pat Kerr, forward Kevin Uranker, midfielder Matt Langton, defender Eric Sloan, defender Pat Bowman and goalkeeper Steve Basheda.

Langton was all-state last year, and Uranker scored 14 goals. Basheda had 19 shutouts.

"This is a very mature team," Wilcher said. "A good group of the reserves last year got in a lot of matches, so they're prepared with playing experience."

Here is a look at rest of the WPIAL and City League:

WPIAL Class AAA

Second-ranked Fox Chapel had 46 players come out for soccer this season, including seven starters. Included in that group are junior forward E.J. McCormick (12 goals) and senior goalkeeper Ted Sheedy (15 shutouts).

"We have been strong defensively the last few years, but we should be able to score more goals than last year," said Coach Mark Perry, who has 270 career wins.

At Pine-Richland, first-year coach Dan Brower has five returning starters. Eva Picard is a talented senior forward who scored 20 goals last season. Senior forward-midfielder Matt Boyd, senior midfielder Ryan Badaracco, junior midfielder Ryan Ulbrich and senior defender Jason Miller are the other returning starters.

WPIAL Class AA

Shady Side Academy Coach Harry Fleishman needs only 21 wins to reach 300 for his career, and he should get plenty of victories this season. Senior Fritz Woelfel is a standout goalkeeper who had 10 shutouts a year ago. Senior forward John Miller had 19 goals.

"Goalkeeper is a big strength for us," Fleishman said. "Fritz had a great year last year, and he could be even better than last year."

Moon, ranked second, has an experienced team with 12 returning starters. Senior goalkeeper Cory Donaldson, senior defender Matt Smith and junior midfielder Greg Lani are a few of the returning starters.

Third-ranked Thomas Jefferson has the WPIAL's premier player. Senior forward-midfielder Rich Costanzo scored 39 goals last season and was an All-American.

WPIAL Class A

Top-ranked Greensburg Central Catholic has a high-scoring forward tandem in junior Jeff Farrell and senior Brett Matson. Farrell scored 42 goals last season and Matson 27. Seven other starters return.

No. 2 Sewickley Academy has some talented players, and the Panthers will have a freshman, Mick Zomer, at goalkeeper.

City League

Allderdice's run of 14 consecutive championships ended last year when the Dragons lost to Schenley in the title game. Schenley comes into this season as the No. 1 team.

Schenley has seven senior returning starters: forward Jon Klein, midfielders Justin Kline, Jared Miller, Beau Berman and Seth Donoughe and senior defenders Peter Brewton and Andrew Lerch.

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