MONROE COUNTY Division IV
BATAVIA BLUE DEVILS (Class A2)
Last season: Finished 2-15 and lost to Aquinas in the first round of Class A2.
Coach: Sean Donnellan (2nd year, 2-15).
Top returners: Jacob Stokes (Sr. GK), Nathan Hamilton (Sr. Defense/Striker), Peter Fallon (Sr. RW), Liam Miller (Jr. CM) and Matt Grover (Jr. Defense).
Top newcomers: Garrick Havens (Soph. Midfield), Josh Weis (Soph. Midfield) and Teagan Moynihan (Soph. Striker).
First game: August 30th at Holley.
Outlook: Optimism is the word with the Blue Devils. In Donnellan’s second year as head coach, the Batavia program is building in size and strength. Players and coaches are working hard to create a new culture around their programs core values of teamwork, hard work, fun and commitment. Batavia will win games they play unselfishly as a team and outwork opponents.
EASTRIDGE LANCERS (Class A2)
Last season: Finished 9-9 and lost to eventual champion Honeoye Falls-Lima in the A2 semi-finals.
Coach: Mike Friedel (17th season).
Top returners: Matt Stefaniw (Sr. F – 22 goals, four assists last season, D4 Player of the Year, First Team All County, First Team All Greater Rochester), Garrett Delves (Sr. Center Midfield – led team in assists last year, Second Team All County), Tyler Tryt (Sr. Center Midfield – strong and physical, good in the air, scoring threat), Jordan LeBlanc (Sr. F – returns after sitting out last season with an injury, will pair well with Stefaniw up top), Matt Quirico (Sr. Defense brings leadership and leadership to backline), Dakoda Iamele (Sr. Defense – like Quirico adds experience from the fullback position) and Anthony DiMarco (Sr. Outside Midfield – brings speed, experience and skill to the flanks).
Top newcomers: Ja’Dyn Thomas (Jr. Sweeper – brings a commanding physical presence and skill to the back), Mohammed Assefa (Jr. Defense – smart and skilled outside back who can get involved in the attack), John Fedison (Jr, Defense – fast and physical, can move into any spot in the back four), Garrett Silva (Jr. Outside Midfield – heady player who moves ball well from the flanks and provides effective services into the box), Jacob Lynch (Jr, Outside Midfield) like Silva intelligent player who pushes the ball well from the outside third and feeds teammates in the box with services) and Brendan O’Kane (Sr. GK) First year playing soccer, brings a baseball player’s hand-to-eye coordination and reflexes, communicates and reads the game well already.
Next game: Wednesday August 30th at Mynderse (currently 1-1 on the season).
Outlook: If the Lancers play to their abilities, they can have a good season. Eastridge has come together as a real team very quickly. They always hang out together and are friends on and off the field.
GREECE ODYSSEY ACADEMY LEOPARDS (Class B)
Last season: Finished 8-9-1 and lost 2-1 to Mynderse in Class B quarterfinals.
Coach: Scott Mikulski (111-115-24/15th season)
Top returners: Kam Watt (Sr. Defense), Mason Walker (Sr. Defense), Dylan Ange (Jr. Forward -Second Team All County) and Parker Ange (Jr. Midfield).
Top newcomers: Kent Johnson (Sr. Forward), Liam Seeley (Sr. Defense), Nick Riefer (Sr. Forward), Jake Wilkins (Sr. Midfield/GK),Josh Haff (Jr. Midfield), Kyle Pezzulo (Jr. GK/Midfield) and Julian Voltaire (Jr. Defense).
First game: Thursday, August 31st against Marion in the Newark Tournament.
Outlook: Odyssey graduated 16 players from last year’s squad. Head coach Scott Mikulski will lean on his four returners as the Leopards look to reload rather than rebuild. Many of Odyssey’s first-year varsity players are skilled and have been working hard to show they belong. Playing a tough Monroe County schedule prepares them well for sectional play. A balanced scoring attack throughout the season will be the key to Odyssey’s success.
GREECE OLYMPIA SPARTANS (Class B)
Last season: Finished 7–10 and lost to Eastridge 1-0 in A2 quarter-finals.
Coach: Robert DuPrau (50 – 72/seven years).
Top returners: Brandon Bruno (Sr. Center Midfield), Aziz Lomidze (Sr. Center Midfield/ Second Team All-County), Jeff Semple (Sr. Center Back) and Saeed Shaibi – (Sr. Forward).
Top newcomers: Andrew Balch (So. Center Midfield), Guy Kadge (Jr. Forward) and Gidyon Chane (Jr. Forward).
First game: At Wayne, September 1st.
Outlook: A strong group of seniors hopes to lead Olympia through a competitive regular season schedule and get the Spartans prepared for a sectional as they move to Class B for the first time in program history. Olympia’s biggest challenge? They graduated 22 of their 24 goals last season. Who will step up and fill the scoring gap left by those seniors?
HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS (Class A2)
Last season: Finished 15-4-1 and Section V Class A2 Champions.
Coach: Mike Merrill (137-57-16/12th year).
Top returners: Nico Coria (Sr. GK – First Team All-County), David Goetz (Sr. Midfield – First Team All-County), Roth Wetzel (Sr. Midfield – First Team All-County), Tanner Smith (Sr. Defense), Brian Teel (Sr. Midfield), Luis Playa (Sr. Defense), Ben Dale (Sr. Midfield), Justin Hofmann (Sr. Midfield) and Parker Hotchkiss (Sr. Midfield).
Top newcomers: Matt Bond (Jr.), Ethan Borrosch(Jr.), Blake Eby (Jr.), Jack Emerson (Jr.) and Christopher Goetz (So.).
Next game: Thursday, August 31st at Pittsford-Mendon. Current record is 2-0.
Outlook: HF-L returns 13 players from last year’s sectional champion squad. That core will learn on experience from last year in the Cougars quest for a fourth straight title. Can HF-L find consistent scoring? Will they stay healthy?
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