Boys soccer watch list

PLAYERS TO WATCH

(in alphabetical order) Jack Amendola, Chagrin Falls: This returning first-team News-Herald all-star had 10 goals and six assists a year ago and is an ideal striker with pace and power. Dave Beattie, West Geauga: With the graduation of program staples Jack Dorsky and Xavier Zup, the return of this talented senior midfielder from academy soccer is certainly welcome. J.T. Brenneman, Wickliffe: The Blue Devils went 15-3-1 and advanced to a Division III district final with a solid group in the back, fortified by this senior goalkeeper who had 89 saves and was secondteam N-H.

Enea Cominelli, University: It would not be a surprise to see this pacey senior striker, who had 10 goals and five assists in 2017, improve upon those numbers in an electric attack with Griffin Meyer.

Anthony Cora, Benedictine: The Bengals are a side on the rise, and this refined junior midfielder (23 goals, 14 assists in 2017) is a big reason. Max Mendels, Gilmour: A longtime rock in the engine room for the Lancers, this senior midfielder had five goals and six assists a year ago and was D-II first-team all-Cleveland. Griffin Meyer, University: After a 21-goal, 11-assist campaign in a D-I regional finalist side, the sky is the limit for this senior striker, who maximizes his size well and is a leader, playmaker and set-piece master of the highest order. Aaron Passalacqua, Chagrin Falls: Possibly this area’s best central midfielder, the senior and returning D-II all-Ohioan has a boundless workrate and is a nightmare on restarts.

Amir Serikbaev, South: The Rebels are bullish on this junior striker, who had five goals and three assists in 2017, to be a program anchor and handful in the offensive third in the second half of his career.

Jack Szmania, NDCL: After losing a chunk of his sophomore campaign to injury, this N-H honor roll recipient last fall will be eager to make up for lost time and is one of the area’s better young attackers.

MATCHES TO WATCH

South at West Geauga (Aug. 25), Chagrin Falls at Hawken (Aug. 28), Kirtland at Wickliffe (Aug. 28), Gilmour at Mayfield (Aug. 30), Geneva at Chagrin Falls (Sept. 4), Riverside at Harvey (Sept. 8), Brush at Mayfield (Sept. 11), Kirtland at Beachwood (Sept. 12), North at Mentor (Sept. 13), Lake Catholic at Gilmour (Sept. 18), South at North (Sept. 18), Newbury at Wickliffe (Sept. 20), Mentor at University (Sept. 22), University at St. Ignatius (Sept. 25), Wickliffe at Geneva (Sept. 29), Lake Catholic at NDCL (Oct. 2), Riverside at Kenston (Oct. 2), Wickliffe at Benedictine (Oct. 4), Chagrin Falls at NDCL (Oct. 9)

PENALTY KICKS

• After a heartbreaking D-I eliteeight exit last year, University is an intriguing group. The offensive-third play should be electric with Meyer, who will likely be in the running for News-Herald player of the year honors, and Cominelli. But it’s also fair to note how much experience US graduated in the defensive third, including 2017 N-H player of the year George Nageeb as a holding mid and center backs Jake Hamilton and Jacob Duijser. If a new-look group there jells, US should be a load again. • Wickliffe has a good chance to build on its 15-3-1 D-III district finalist run last fall. Blue Devils coach Chris Adkins has much of that side back including the aforementioned Brenneman in goal and an attack led by Nick Colbert, Jonny Abramczyk and Nick Telisman, who combined for 38 goals and 28 assists a year ago. It’s a group that has some pace and combines well. • One of the most fun area boys sides to watch in 2018 will be Benedictine. The Bengals showed promise last fall with Cora, as mentioned, in the middle of the park, and Nahun Figueroa might be the fastest striker in this area. They will also welcome Anthony’s freshman brother Christian into the fold, a decorated youth-level performer. Christian Cora scored five goals in a season-opening win over Oberlin. Coach Miguel Cora has done a nice job laying a foundation. • This will be the last ride for a senior class at Newbury that has been the spine of the program since their entrance as freshmen. Standout attackers Julian Surckla and Mario Puletti had 46 goals and 32 assists for a 14-4 side a year ago. Unfortunately, the Black Knights have just 12 players out, seven of whom are seniors. So obviously, any injuries could be devastating, and the future is tough to gauge. But these seniors will do their utmost to go out with a flourish. • An intriguing side in the CVC Chagrin this fall could be Geneva, with a veteran starting 11 looking to finish in style after an 8-5-4 campaign in 2017. The seniors have logged considerable time and noticeable improvement in on-field product over their tenure. If the defensive-third play is steady to complement an attack paced by Alex Lechintan and Dawson Schafer, the Eagles could aim for their first double-digit win output since 2010. • Any talk of the postseason will have to wait until a legal case plays out in Cincinnati, where Roger Bacon was granted a temporary restraining order against the OHSAA’s competitive balance. Should the TRO hold up through the legal system, numbers would, presumably, have to revert back to pure 10-12 enrollment figures. With the amount of sides that have moved up a division due to the competitive balance multiplier, that could have a massive impact on divisions and districts in soccer and other sports that have competitive balance.

Meyer