5 day forecast
North Xtra: Springdale boys soccer humming right along
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As a full-time job, Cesareo Sanchez is the building and grounds supervisor at Springdale High School; after school, as the boys' soccer coach, Sanchez is supervising a section unbeaten streak.
Now in his third year at Springdale, Sanchez has yet to lose a section game. Overall the program boasted a 38-game section unbeaten streak coming into the season. The Dynamos have won three consecutive outright section titles.
Springdale (9-0, 6-0) has extended that Section 2-A unbeaten streak to 44 games following Tuesday's 4-0 section victory against St. Joseph.
"We always take those section games as a different situation," Sanchez said. "We are looking not to lose."
Springdale hasn't done so this season, whether in section or out. The Dynamos have blanked St. Joseph, Vincentian Academy and Bishop Canevin while winning one-goal games against Highlands and Riverview and defeating West Shamokin, 5-2.
It hasn't always been easy either for Springdale. It was pushed to overtime by both Vincentian and Riverview.
"I think Vincentian has been the toughest so far and Riverview was very tough," Sanchez said.
Springdale reached the WPIAL finals in 2009, the WPIAL semifinals in 2010 and the WPIAL quarterfinals last year. Sanchez had to replace five starters from last year's team.
His top returning starter is senior goalie Joey Wysocki, an all-section choice last year. Wysocki has been in net for three shutouts this season and has only yielded three goals in six games.
"[Wysocki] is a natural goalie," Sanchez said. "He has really good reflexes. He has been solid all the time."
Junior forward Will Noble is the top returning goal-scorer for Springdale. He scored 10 goals last season and had five through six games this year.
"[Noble] is very good one on one," Sanchez said. "He makes plays when the ball is on the ground at his feet."
The leading goal scorer so far this season has been senior forward Jared Cole who has six goals. Cole transferred to Springdale from Central Catholic. Noble and Cole usually play up top in a 4-4-2 formation.
The diamond formation defense is led by stopper Charlie Guy and sweeper Justin Fetes.
Sanchez, a native of the Canary Islands with a background of playing soccer both in Spain and South America, stresses a possession style of soccer. He previously coached nine years for District 10 Wilmington and four years for Neshannock.
"This year I think we have a solid defense," Sanchez said. "We are scoring fewer goals than last year but we are working on possession. Our game is possession, that is how I learned and I try to teach the kids. Compared with last year we are playing more possession style, I would say maybe we can get further than last year."
The midfield has been an area of strength for the Dynamos with seniors Jacob Cotter and Dustin Pollino and junior Adam Winklman anchoring the unit. Wysocki and Cotter Pollino are the team captains.
A major section showdown is on the horizon this afternoon when Springdale visits Vincentian Academy (5-1, 4-1) at 4 p.m.
