This season might seem like deja vu for Tom Kennedy.

At least Kennedy, the Greensburg Central Catholic boys' soccer coach, hopes it is. He has noticed an uncanny resemblance his group has this season from a team he coached five years ago. The combination of juniors leading the team, with sophomores contributing and strong goalkeeping has Kennedy hoping his team can duplicate the feats of the 2003 and 2004 team that claimed back-to-back WPIAL titles.

"It is kind of scary but they are a spitting image of that team," Kennedy said.

"They are their own people but these guys look a lot like those guys. They still have to prove it on the field. I can almost match up player by player across the field by position from the two teams."

After 16 games the Centurions (15-1, 13-0) have looked a lot like the 2003 team in the win column, too. Just like five seasons ago they opened the season 14-0. Greensburg CC has made easy work of teams in section play. They have not allowed a section goal since Sept. 16 in a 14-2 win over Winchester Thurston.

This season, the only blemish on the Centurions' record is a 3-1 loss to Class AAA powerhouse Norwin last Saturday.

Ten times this season they have scored at least five goals in a game. Two of their toughest games this season have come against Section 1-A rival Trinity Christian. They defeated Trinity, 3-1, in the section-opening game and again 1-0 in late September. Greensburg Central Catholic has clinched the section title.

Kennedy and the players give a lot of credit for their success to teamwork. A stifling defense and solid goalie play have been factors as well.

Senior goalkeeper Adam West has played like a superhero in net with nine shutouts. Through 16 games West has only allowed just six goals. When games are out of reach, Kennedy will put younger players on defense to help them gain experience and West looks forward to the challenge of facing more shots.

"I don't get a whole lot of action back there, but usually toward the end of games I will see a breakaway every once in a while. It gives me a little thrill at the end of the game," West said.

He is one of eight returning starters back this season. Last season the Centurions went 13-6-1 overall and were undefeated in the section. After they held a 2-1 lead in the WPIAL quarterfinals, Quaker Valley came back to upset them, 3-2.

The two forwards for Greensburg CC this season are returning starters Ethan Shula and Tim Wood. Wood led all scorers with 33 goals after 14 games and Shula had 16 goals.

The other forward is Daniel Szekely, who has scored 14 goals. Shula also plays in the midfield and sees time at sweeper.

Rooney Columbus and Dominick Pimpinella both start in the midfield and have scored four goals each. They play alongside Greg Kemerer another midfielder who has also scored four goals after 14 games. Defensively, juniors Chris Brown and Woody Griffith start on the outside with freshman Rylend Smith at sweeper.

Griffith's emergence as a starter came after a long circuitous route. After punting for the football team his freshman year he decided to come out for soccer last season. He was deep on the depth chart as a backup goalie but by the end of the season he was a starting as an outside defender in the playoffs.

Ethan Shula's younger brother, sophomore Nolan Shula also starts on the defense. Freshman Thomas Downling has been the first defensive sub off the bench for Kennedy. Brian Gongaware, a backup junior goaltender, has contributed to the defense even when he is not in net.

"It's been a fun year for me. The guys have responded well," Kennedy said.

With the addition of three teams to the section and six more section games, Greensburg has had less of an opportunity to schedule games against the bigger schools as they have in the past. Kennedy uses those games to help get his team ready for the playoffs but without them the players are not worried about it affecting the team in the playoffs.

"I don't think it will be harder to get ready for the playoffs now," Ethan Shula said. "I don't think teams will really know how good we are."