2016 RIO WEST BOYS METRO-AREA SOCCER CAPSULES
BERNALILLO SPARTANS Coach: Anthony Jaramillo (3rd year) Last season: 7-9-1 Key players: Victor Noel Martinez, sr., FW; Sean Evanko, jr., MF: Daniel Gutierrez, jr., D; Jose Aguilar, jr., GK; Kevin Silva, fresh., MF.
Outlook: This will be a relatively young group, filled with plenty of sophomores who will have to plug in some holes for the Spartans. Martinez is the team’s top offensive player, but Bernalillo must find a way to get the ball on his foot. He was the team’s second-leading scorer last year. The Spartans hope to make a run at the postseason this year, Jaramillo said. BOSQUE SCHOOL BOBCATS Coach: Jason Cloyes (1st year)
Last season: 16-3-3; Class 1A-4A state champions
Key players: Josh Sanchez, sr., MF; Zech Meddleton, sr., MF/ FW; Travis James, sr., D/MF; Peter Panagopolous, sr., D; Jerry McKinney, sr., GK; Cooper Tezak, sr., D.
Outlook: The big change for the Bobcats is Cloyes, who takes over the program from the now-retired Klaus Weber. Only three starters return for Bosque, but it hopes Tezak will be healthy after missing most of last season with an injury. The team’s three center mids — Meddleton, Sanchez and James — will be carrying a heavy load for the Bobcats as they seek to repeat.
CIBOLA COUGARS
Coach: Michael Clarke (interim)
Last season: 13-6-1; lost to La Cueva in 6A quarterfinals
Key players: Benjamin Rogers, sr., FW; Matt Berlint, sr., FW; Chance Ford, jr., MF; Shea Cosper, jr., D; Dustin Michalk, jr., D.
Outlook: Clarke was coaching Eldorado’s girls JV when his older brother, Cameron, asked him to take over the program this season as Cameron continues to rehab neck and back injuries in a Denver hospital. Michael Clarke has only had a limited amount of time with the Cougars, so they will be a mystery team, perhaps all the way through the season. CLEVELAND STORM Coach: Shaun Gill (9th year)
Last season: 9-7-5; lost to Hobbs in 6A first round
Key players: Dylan Casey, sr., D; Korbin Krupiak, sr., FW; James Uhrich, sr., FW; Dylon Sandoval, sr., MF; Dominic Valenzuela, sr., GK; Marshall Stribling, jr., MF.
Outlook: Here is a team many coaches believe might break out in 2016. This group has speed up top and on the wings, plus a solidified defense, Gill said, and one of the state’s top ’keepers in Valenzuela. An early metro tournament matchup with La Cueva should be a litmus test right away. And later, the Storm will have to endure a tough district schedule.
RIO RANCHO RAMS Coach: John Shepard (15th year) Last season: 15-5-2; lost to Albuquerque High in 6A semifinals
Key players: Chris Leyba, sr., utility; Cameron Trujillo, sr., MF; Kevin Aguilar, sr., MF; Joseph De Los Santos, sr., D; Caesar Charrette, sr., D; Justin Farello, sr., MF.
Outlook: The Rams have seven starters back off a team that was Final Four material last November, although they are new in net with junior Garrett Velasquez this fall. Can Rio Rancho’s new faces blend well with the veterans? This is the question that occupies Shepard as the season gets under way. Farello was a second-team All-State choice last season and led the Rams in scoring.
ST. PIUS SARTANS Coach: A.J. Herrera (2nd year)
Last season: 12-7-3; lost to Los Alamos in 5A quarterfinals
Key players: Jaren Rodriguez, soph., D/MF; Julian Garcia, jr., FW; Andres Torres, sr., FW; Seth Matteucci, soph., FW; Christian Monsalve, soph., D; Alex Nana, jr., MF.
Outlook: The Sartans, on paper, look young, but that’s misleading, as their nine returning starters just happen to include an overload of underclassmen. In fact, this team has eight sophomores, many of whom logged significant minutes last season. Rodriguez, Garcia and Torres were all first-team all-district selections last year for St. Pius, which intends to push rival Academy once we get to the playoffs.
VALLEY VIKINGS Coach: Tyler Linn (2nd year) Last season: 9-8-1 Key players: Johnny Baros, soph., FW; Miguel Ramirez, jr., MF; Diego Tena, sr., D; Oswaldo Medina, soph., MF; Jose Marrufo, jr., MF; Luis Guerrero, jr., FW.
Outlook: Five of Valley’s eight losses last season came to the two 6A state finalists, AHS and Atrisco Heritage. The Vikings bring back nine starters from that team, including a good number of attacking players, Linn said. Tena must be solid on the back line for Valley, a team that is not built on physicality. The Vikes want to grind out possessions on the ground and make their hay that way. VOLCANO VISTA HAWKS Coach: Billy Thiebaut (9th year) Last season: 8-8-2 Key players: Larsen Rogers, jr., MF; Isai Rivas, soph., MF; Andres Jurado, sr., D; Zach Lemasters, jr., FW; Stevie Pina, sr., FW; Tyler Cole, sr., MF. Outlook: The Hawks were supposed to get standout transfer Skylor Rose from Sandia Prep, but Rose has bolted instead for the Colorado Rapids Academy. Still, Volcano Vista, with nine starters returning, should be back in the playoff mix this season after a rare postseason miss in 2015. Rogers and Rivas will be key playmakers this season. The Hawks haven’t settled on a starting goalkeeper yet, however. WEST MESA MUSTANGS Coach: Jorge Serrano (3rd year) Last season: 6-10-2 Key players: Edgar Ruiz, sr., GK; Andres Ituarte, sr., MF/FW; Andy Chavez, jr., MF; Jason Gomez, jr., MF; Aaron Mendoza, jr., MF; Augustin Paulino, soph., D.
Outlook: The Mustangs have nine starters back as they hope to make a dent in a district that has been dominated by Albuquerque High and Atrisco Heritage. Team chemistry is a definite plus for West Mesa, which will mount its attacks from the back and try to be clean in the midfield to help that system along.