Story lines abound as the 2010 soccer season gets under way. What better way to preview the new season than with the alphabet?
A is for Allen, as in Jen, who takes over the Warrior Run girls program after Kathy Hillard manned the post for 17 years.
B is for back line, which is a question mark for the Lewisburg boys team this season. The Green Dragons graduated three of their four senior starters from last year, and the fourth — Nick Talabiska — will miss the first part of the season with a knee injury.
C is for Callender, as in Shawn, the new coach for the Lewisburg boys program.
D is for defending, as in the four defending champions in District 4 (Midd-West boys in Class AA, East Juniata boys in Class A, Selinsgrove girls in Class AAA, and Lewisburg girls in Class AA).
E is for eighteen, the number of regular-season games teams are allowed to play.
F is for five, the number of teams remaining in the boys Tri-Valley League (Halifax, Millersburg, Line Mountain, East Juniata and Greenwood).
G is for the Green Dragons from Lewisburg; the girls team moves up to the Heartland Athletic Conference Division I this season after two years in the HAC-II
H is for the ham and bean soup at Midd-West’s Sports Boosters Athletic Park
I is for Ines Antenstiner, a Daily Item First Team defender last season who’s back for Lewisburg this season
J is for junior, which is Lewisburg goalkeeper Christian Gallagher’s class. Gallagher was the only nonsenior on The Daily Item’s preseason all-star team.
K is for Kentucky, where three-time Daily Item Player of the Year Caitlin Landis now plays. The Milton product is a freshman forward who has scored two goals in four games for the 3-1 Wildcats.
L is for the Loyalsock girls, the Class AA state champions in 2009; they’re down in Class A now.
M is for Max Campbell, the former Warrior Run star who’s the new coach for the Milton girls.
N is for ninety, the number of career victories for Midd-West girls soccer coach Gary Keister entering the season.
O is for overtime, which is what some of the players in the area work during the fall season. Players like Selinsgrove’s Spencer Hotaling are also kickers for their school’s football team.
P is for Payne, as in Midd-West senior midfielder Jeremy Payne, who’s the reigning Daily Item Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
Q is for quick, as in the length of the season. The season only began, but the playoffs start next month.
R is for Raymond H. Perritt Stadium in Hughesville, where many of the District 4 playoff games are played.
S is for Scot Goodling, the new co-coach with Don Troutman in the East Juniata boys program; Goodling was formerly the head coach at Juniata.
T is for three, the number of PIAA classifications for girls soccer beginning this season (there had been two since 1996).
U is for undefeated District 4 champion, something that hasn’t happened since the South Williamsport girls pulled it off in 2006 (they went on to win the state title that year).
V is for Villa Joseph Marie, the District 1 powerhouse girls team that has historically feasted on Valley schools. Can any of the local girls beat the Jems this year?
W is for Wesner, as in Doug, who’s entering his 16th year as head coach of the Northumberland Christian School girls program; Wesner had 192 wins entering the season.
X is for the third letter in Craig Taxis’ last name. Taxis is the new head coach for the Line Mountain girls program.
Y is for youth movement, which is what the Mifflinburg boys are experiencing this year after graduating many of the players who led them to the playoffs each of the past two years.
Z is for zebras, the men and women who wear the black and white and officiate the games. Just remember it’s not an easy job, so don’t give them a hard time.
Sports
The ABCs of the 2010 high school soccer season
- Sports
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Panthers, Shore to settle AAA crown
One game. Milton played 19 times (once canceled by rain) and won 15, making the postseason for the first time since 2007, and its season comes down to one, winner-take-all game.
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Prolific offense carries Milton to final
A smile creased the corners of Jordon Bordner's mouth and soon his pearly whites gleamed through. If he thought about the question before, the Milton junior played coy for a reporter.
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Three Braves heading to Lyco
In a year of twists and turns for the Shikellamy wrestling program, three seniors have decided to follow their former coach and drive the 40 miles to attend Lycoming College, in Williamsport.
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Weather washes out schedule
While the severe thunderstorm that blew through the Susquehanna Valley stopped the District 4 baseball and softball playoffs before they ever got started on Tuesday afternoon, the weather won't force the Milton baseball team to wait anymore.
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District 4 playoffs washed out
The thunderstorm that blew through the Valley on Tuesday afternoon has pushed back the entire District 4 softball and baseball schedule.
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Adames emerges for Black Panthers
Chace Phillips had a moment of pause, looking down at Reynaldo Adames prone at his feet. Milton's senior leadoff hitter had made a hard, head-first slide into third base and didn't immediately get up.
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Bottom of order sparks Ironmen
Trevor Leitzel was probably joshing when he explained how he came to go 3-for-3 in Danville's district quarterfinal win Friday at Wyalusing Valley.
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Lauer steps down
For the last four years, Dave Lauer has considered hanging up his whistle and clipboard. He just didn't know for sure that the time was right. But he found an out. After 30 years as the Selinsgrove girls track and field coach " and 40 years of coaching overall " Lauer took that next big step.
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Shots from the Hip: Fireside blogging
Hotdogs roasting over an open fire, mud squishing between soggy toes ...
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H.S. softball: A great team by any other name
For the longest time, Warrior Run softball history could be summed up with one name: Laura Harris.
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Panthers, Shore to settle AAA crown
