Spsl North Division Boys Soccer Capsules

Auburn

Coach - John Yorke, fifth year.

1996 division record - 0-12-4 (ninth).

Returning players - Matt Howell, MF, jr.; Glen Welman, MF, jr.; Jimmy Fioretti, MF, soph.; Trevor Korbol, D, soph.; Kelly Doll, MF, soph.; Jeff Decker, GK, soph.

Key newcomers - Jason Hash, MF, sr.; Karl Worden, MF/D, jr.; Mike Storino, D, jr.; Jason Primeau, F, jr.; Dave Arnaus, MF/F, jr.; George Payne, F, soph.; Evan Taylor, MF, soph.; Ryan Sifferman, MF, soph.; Bill Egbert, D, fr.

Outlook - The Trojans left lots of room for improvement last season and are showing it this spring. Yorke expects them to be much better, but it's still a young group with just two seniors and 11 sophomores. Defense should especially be improved.

Auburn Riverside

Coach - Dave Winter, second year.

1996 division record - 3-11-2 (seventh).

Returning players - Josh Benedict, F, sr.; James Floyd, D, sr.; Dave Vestal, D, sr.; Ben Abear, MF, jr.; Matt Cole, MF, jr.; Travis Mortimer, D, jr.; Kurtis Sandmire, MF, jr.; Gary Fijioka, MF, soph.; Brian Iblings, MF, soph.; Jeremy Proud, GK, soph.; Matt Scarlett, D, soph.; Joe Watson, F, soph.

Key newcomers - Zach Burnside, GK, soph.; Brett Cardenas, F, soph.; Jacob Tibeau, MF, soph.

Outlook - Proud is the premier goalkeeper in the league. Everyone returns from a team that had no seniors, and some expect the Ravens to challenge for the third and final playoff spot. Midfield play will be the key, and Winter has juggled his lineup to enhance that area, moving Cole up from his defender spot.

Decatur

Coach - Dan Flint, sixth year.

1996 division record - 10-4-2 (tied for third), eliminated in SPSL tournament.

Returning players - Jimmy Andreson, GK, sr.; Jason Berg, D, sr.; Lenny Foster, MF, sr.; Lance Kohler, F, sr.; Darin Laier, MF, sr.; John Ottele, D, sr.; Kyle Rusten, MF, sr.; Dave Short, MF, sr.; Chris Stoneback, MF, sr.; Jerry Pence, GK, jr.; John Rusten, F, jr.; Justyn Scholtze, D, jr.; Kyle Bailey, F, soph.; Kevin Jones, D, soph.

Key newcomers - Cameron Swift, MF, sr.; Scott Heidel, MF, jr.; Derek Suzuki, D, jr.; Ian Chursky, F, soph.; Danny Odne, F, soph.; Lee Pennington, D, soph.; Scott Yadon, D, soph.; Seth Marsh, MF, fr.

Outlook - The Gators appear to be a year away from greatness, but they could be pretty darn good this season. They feature several sensational sophomores, including Bailey up front and Pennington in the back. Could make a push for No. 3 spot.

Enumclaw

Coach - Dan Rogel, first year.

1996 division record - 3-10-3 (sixth).

Returning players - Graham Bartlett, MF, sr.; Justin Cambra, F, sr.; George Harding, F, sr.; Mike Bertrand, D, jr.; Matt Brisbane, F, jr.; Joey Smith, MF, jr.; Brian Johnson, F, jr.; Phil Mitchell, F, jr.; Andy Roberson, D, jr; Tim Braunschweig, GK, jr.; Tyler Bruhn, D, soph.; Dickson Harding, MF, soph.

Key newcomers - Dean Nick, MF/D, jr.; Luke Dubsky, MF, soph.; Timothy Sargent, MF/D, soph.; Kyle Carlson, MF, fr.; Kyle Carson, D, fr.; Brian Lebow, GK, fr.

Outlook - Rogel expects good things from the Hornets, who return a slew of players from last year. Considering the strength of the division, though, they likely will be hard-pressed to crack the upper half.

Federal Way

Coach - John Wedge, sixth year.

1996 division record - 9-3-4 (tied for third).

Returning players - Koffi Assouan Jr., F, sr.; A.J. Conklin, MF, sr.; Brian Hemmer, F, sr.; Jim Hoover, D, sr.; Dusty Richardson, MF, sr.; Rany Rolewicz, F, sr.; Jared Whaley, D, sr.; Paul Lombardo, MF, jr.; Nathan Markquart, D, jr.; Brent Marshall, D, jr.; Andrew Yarbrough, MF, jr.; Chad McWhirt, G, jr.; Eddie Shillinglaw, G, jr.; Beau Lively, D, soph.; John Warren, MF, soph.

Key newcomers - Hien Nguyen, MF/D, sr.; Matt Koch, MF, jr.; Marc Armstrong, F, soph.; Ryan Turley, D, soph.; Brandon Sewell, GK, fr.; Gabriel Dizon, MF, fr.; Alex Lee, F, fr.

Outlook - Depth should be a plus for the Eagles - Wedge is keeping 22 players. Keeping the top guys healthy and eligible are keys to Federal Way's chances of flying to the top.

Jefferson

Coach - Jim Judson, 12th year (fourth year back after four-year break).

1996 division record - 11-2-3 (tied for first); lost in state quarterfinals.

Returning players - Mike Koo, MF, sr.; Anthony Salvatierra, F, sr.; Dennis Price, GK, sr.; Greg Hoffman, D, sr.; Justin Witter, D, sr.; William Rodriguez, F, jr.; Adam Seegmueller, D, jr.

Key newcomers - Nick Zovko, D, sr.; Darin Clarke, GK, jr.; Casey Crane, F, soph.; Nick Salvatierra, MF, soph.; Erik Torseth, F, soph.; Ryan Mansfield, F, soph.; Scott Salmon, D, soph.; Joe Deaver, D, soph.; Erik Gaines, MF, soph.; Jeff Savage, MF, soph.; Ian Wallace, F, soph.; Donn Tilbury, F, soph.

Outlook - Judson expects the young Raiders to get better and better as the season goes along, and that should be a scary thought to opposing coaches, because they're pretty good now. Koo and Price provide leadership and stability, and there's a lot of talent in that group of sophomores.

Kent-Meridian

Coach - Gunter Bohrmann, 13th year.

1996 division record - 3-12-1 (eighth).

Returning players - Mike Carpinito, GK, sr.; Greg Lois, D, sr.; Frederico Olivas, F, sr.; Gamal Goundar, MF, sr.; Maximo Santana, MF, sr.; Shawn Tidd, D, sr.; Brandon Beilke, GK, jr.; Dan Lewis, MF, jr.; Kason Keenan, MF, jr.; Jared Abbott, MF, jr.

Key newcomers - Toby Jack, D, sr.; Brian Robinett, D, sr.; Kelly Stoltz, MF, sr.; Manish Naidu, D, sr.; Travis Davies, F, jr.; Pranish Naidu, MF, jr.; Sonal Goundar, F, jr.; Mark Santos, MF, soph.

Outlook - Goal production is a concern for the Royals. In a league filled with premier players, Kent-Meridian relies mostly on good all-around athletes - "wrestlers and swimmers, and a few soccer players," Bohrmann said. Should show steady improvement.

Kentridge

Coach - Ed Gutierrez, sixth year.

1996 division record - 9-5-2 (fifth).

Returning players - Scott Sandin, MF, sr.; Nick Brawley, MF, sr.; Ryan Schell, F, sr.; Matt Deming, F, sr.; Paul McEwen, D, sr.; Mike Boughter, D, sr.; Jason Cappelletti, GK, sr.; Aaron Hottell, MF, jr.; Brandon Lynch, D, jr.; Tim Dapar, F, soph.

Key newcomers - Tyler Ault, MF, jr.; Chris Bennett, D, jr.; Chris Ling, MF, jr.; Scott Groce, MF, jr.; Eddie Mayhew, MF, jr.; Matt Mooseles, F, jr.; Peter Marcu, GK, soph.; Justin Miller, D, fr.

Outlook - Seven starters return for the Chargers, making them contenders for the division title. But they are young defensively and might take time to come together. Sandin and Brawley run the show in the middle.

Kentwood

Coach - George Czarnowski, third year.

1996 division record - 11-2-3 (tied for first); lost in state quarterfinals.

Returning players - Mitch Roehr, D, sr.; Brady Bell, MF, sr.; Cory Armstrong, F, sr.; Scott Kriss, D, jr.; Scott Quinn, MF, jr.; Dru Hedin, MF, jr.; Todd Haueter, MF, jr.; Nick Witta, D, soph.; Tim Cusick, F, soph.

Key newcomers - Matt Chipps, GK, jr.; Bobby Jones, F, jr.; Jason Jones, D, jr.; Joel Broom, MF, jr.; Trevor Read, MF, jr.; Ben Carroll, MF, soph.; Justin Hughes, MF, fr.

Outlook - The Conquerors are off to their traditionally slow start, but are hoping for the same fast finish they had last year. Czarnowski's early concerns center on an apparent lack of unity and fitness. It's a young team with just three seniors.