2017 Boys Soccer Capsules
ADELSON SCHOOL
League: Class 3A Sunset
Head coach: William Naftaly, fourth season
2016 record: 12-0-1 (independent)
Returning starters: Seven
Top athletes: MF/D Dylan Soresman (Sr.), F/MF Alex Sefia (Sr.), D/F Sam Shain (Sr.), D/MF/F Ben Elharrar (Sr.)
Outlook: The Lions jump back into the Sunset League, and with seven starters returning, they hope to compete for a postseason berth.
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ARBOR VIEW
League: Class 4A Northwest
Head coach: Robert Starbird, sixth season
2016 record: 9-9-3 (5-7 Northwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eleven (seven)
Top athletes: F Nicklaus Dongmann (Sr.), D Zachary Breaz (Sr.), MF Pierce Fincher (Sr.), MF/D Ricardo Carrera (Sr.)
Outlook: The Aggies bring back seven starters from a team that narrowly missed out on the postseason.
“With a lot of upperclassmen, we hope to have great leadership and have a chance to make the playoffs,” Starbird said.
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BASIC
League: Class 4A Southeast
Head coach: Abel Arteaga, first season
2016 record: 1-15-1 (0-10 Southeast, sixth)
Outlook: Arteaga inherits a program that has struggled to be competitive in recent years. He’s hopeful he can begin the turnaround this year.
“I think as the season progresses our boys will show their talent,” Arteaga said. “The structure of the team is something that I am really proud of, and I think this is the beginning of a new era for this program.”
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BISHOP GORMAN
League: Class 4A Southwest
Head coach: Tommy Tate, third season
2016 record: 16-5-1 (10-2 Southwest, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (six)
Top athletes: F C.J. Neville (Sr.), F Alex Daseler (Jr.), MF Hayden Madsen (So.), D Jeffrey Wright (Sr.)
Outlook: The defending Southwest League champions bring back six starters, including some firepower in Neville (12 goals, 6 assists) and Daseler (6 goals, 5 assists). Madsen (4 goals, 2 assists) also should contribute.
Wright (3 goals, 1 assist) is back to guide what should be a strong defense. Tate feels the addition of freshman goalkeeper Diesel Fiore also should strengthen the defense.
The Gaels have veteran starters back in the midfield.
“We will be a young, but very competitive team this season,” Tate said. “We fully expect to defend our league title and make a run for a state title this season.”
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BONANZA
League: Class 4A Southwest
Head coaches: Daniel Bressler and Andrew Sherer, fifth season
2016 record: 4-6-5 (4-5-3 Southwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Ten (ten)
Top athletes: MF Efrain Mayorga (Jr.), F/MF Jonas Bryant (Jr.), D Martin Rodriguez (Jr.), D Tyler Park (So.), MF Daniel Rojas (Fr.), MF Angel Colin (Sr.), MF Jared Chavez (So.), MF Diego Chavez (So.), F/D Fidel Ordaz (Jr.), MF Sergie Delgado (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bengals narrowly missed out on a playoff berth last season.
With 10 starters back, though the team remains young, they should compete for a spot in the postseason.
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CANYON SPRINGS
League: Class 4A Northeast
Head coach: Michael Langager, first season
2016 record: 7-6-3 (2-3-3 Northeast, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eleven (six)
Top athletes: F Eduardo Quintero (Sr.), MF/F Edgar Muniz (Sr.), MF Jesus Gonzalez (Sr.), MF Edgar Donate (Sr.), MF Ramon Urias-Medina (Sr.)
Outlook: Langager takes over a team that has plenty of varsity experience.
In all, 11 lettermen return for the Pioneers, who have some weapons at forward and in the midfield in Quintero (9 goals, 2 assists), Muniz (4 goals, 3 assists), Gonzalez (3 goals, 3 assists), Donate (2 goals, 4 assists) and Urias-Medina.
“The team is playing well together and has high expectations for itself for the season,” Langager said.
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CENTENNIAL
League: Class 4A Northwest
Head coach: Paul George, third season
2016 record: 12-5-3 (8-2-2 Northwest, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fourteen (eight)
Top athletes: MF Jake Meacham (Sr.), GK Jacob Mays (Sr.), D Ahmed Green (Sr.), D Jesus Vargas (Sr.), MF Carsen Smith (Sr.), D/MF Alex Masaka (Sr.)
Outlook: Mays, who recorded eight shutouts last season, is one of eight starters who return for the Bulldogs.
“I’m really looking forward to the 2017 season,” George said. “We have a very talented group of seniors as well as a group of younger guys who have proven to be able to step into specific roles and compete on a very high level.
“We expect to do very well in our division and make a deep run into the playoffs.”
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CHAPARRAL
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Eric Rolwing, seventh season
2016 record: 16-9-2 (7-2-1 Sunrise, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (three)
Top athletes: D/MF Miguel Mendoza (Sr.), D Angelo Grossi (Jr.), F Alexander Caro (So.)
Outlook: Graduation took its toll on the Cowboys’ roster with eight starters gone from last year’s squad that advanced to the Class 3A state tournament.
Mendoza, the Class 3A state defensive player of the year, and teammate Grossi return to guide the defense. Caro (5 goals, 3 assists) should be among the leaders on offense.
“We have retooled and will be ready to make another run,” Rolwing said. “Our goal remains the same: to win state.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
League: Class 4A Northwest
Head coach: Mark Bailey, ninth season
2016 record: 16-4-3 (9-1-2 Northwest, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (seven)
Top athletes: MF Miguel Rubio (Sr.), D Adrian Galvan (Sr.), MF Kevin Andrade (Sr.), F Jimi Villasenor (Jr.), F Gustavo Garcia (Sr.)
Outlook: The winners of the last four Northwest League titles, the Spartans return seven starters but will have some work to do in replacing two players who combined for 48 goals and 19 assists in their senior season.
Garcia (8 goals, 4 assists) missed last season due to injury, but returns to help an offense that also should get contributions from Villasenor (4 goals, 5 assists), Rubio (3 goals, 8 assists) and Andrade (3 goals, 4 assists).
“We expect to be up to the challenge, returning a solid core of veteran players with a few new additions,” Bailey said. “Gustavo Garcia returns after missing his entire junior year to injury and looks to thrive in a starting role after scoring eight goals as a sophomore. Miguel Rubio and Kevin Romero will pickup where they left off last year with solid play.
“I’m excited to see what this year brings. As usual, the Northwest Division is one of the strongest divisions in the state, so we certainly have our work cut out for us. I look forward to our team finding our identity and making a run at the region and state titles. I really like this group.”
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CORONADO
League: Class 4A Southeast
Head coach: Dustin Barton, seventh season
2016 record: 18-4-1 (8-1-1 Southeast, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fourteen (seven)
Top athletes: F John Lynam (Sr.), MF Justin Irungaray (Sr.)
Outlook: The Cougars came up a goal short of winning the Class 4A state title last season, taking Galena to overtime before falling.
Seven starters return from that team, including Lynam, who had 35 goals and 22 assists.
“After losing key seniors, we will look to rebuild and make a run in the playoffs,” Barton said.
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DEL SOL
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: John Britt, 14th season
2016 record: 13-1-2 (8-0-2 Sunrise, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (five)
Top athletes: F Sergio Calderon (Sr.), MF Daniel Barajas (Sr.), D Jonathan Carranza (Sr.)
Outlook: The Dragons put together a fantastic season last year, going undefeated until the Southern Region semifinals. The loss of 10 seniors from that squad won’t be easy to overcome.
Calderon (14 goals, 7 assists) and Barajas (3 goals, 5 assists) are back to lead the offense, and Carranza returns to guide the defense.
“Gaining experience and playing spoiler in the playoffs is our goal,” Britt said.
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DESERT OASIS
League: Class 4A Southwest
Head coach: Tara Magdos, first season
2016 record: 2-13-2 (0-11-1 Southwest, seventh)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (seven)
Top athletes: MF Haiko Hovak (Sr.), MF Ethan Kovach (Jr.), D Maclane Lee (Sr.), MF/F Kevin Nevinger (Jr.)
Outlook: Magdos takes over a team that is hungry for success.
The Diamondbacks bring back 12 lettermen and hope to compete for a playoff spot.
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DURANGO
League: Class 4A Southwest
Head coach: Richard Cuellar, fourth season
2016 record: 20-5-2 (9-2-1 Southwest, second)
Returning starters: Six
Top athletes: MF Erick Martinez-Rodriguez (Sr.), F Jaime Munguia (Sr.), MF Tyson Tesfamriam (Jr.), F Alfredo Robles-Rodriguez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers returns six starters from a squad that advanced to the Class 4A state tournament last year.
Munguia (16 goals, 2 assists) led the team in scoring last season.
“We hope to continue our success in game play and to make soccer a notable sport,” Cuellar said. “We want to keep up our progress as a school to compete against.”
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ELDORADO
League: Class 4A Northeast
Head coach: David Ostler, second season
2016 record: 4-10-2 (1-6-1 Northeast, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (five)
Top athletes: D Erick Diaz (Sr.), MF Ramiro Andrade (Sr.), D Jonathan Pinal (Sr.), MF Cipriano Rodriguez (Sr.), MF Roberto Soto (So.)
Outlook: Five starters return for the Sundevils, who will field a young team.
“With only four seniors, Eldorado looks to grow as a program around a young core of talented cousins, sophomores Roberto Soto and Roberto Gonzalez,” Ostler said. “In order to compete for a playoff spot this team will have to mature quickly and find ways to score. Leonel Sedano and Fransisco Ulloa will be asked to set up and provide that scoring.
“Team chemistry will be a plus because this group of young men works hard together.”
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FOOTHILL
League: Class 4A Southeast
Head coach: Andrew Risheg, 12th season
2016 record: 10-6-2 (8-2 Southeast, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (six)
Top athletes: MF Trent Milne (Sr.), D/MF Kapono Maruyama (Sr.), F Stanley Henderson (Sr.), D/MF Noah Morris (Jr.)
Outlook: After finishing second in the Southeast League last season, the Falcons return 12 lettermen.
Milne (9 goals, 7 assists) was the team’s second-leading scorer, and Henderson (4 goals, 1 assist) the fifth-leading scorer last season.
“With six returning starters, we will be rebuilding,” Risheg said.
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GREEN VALLEY
League: Class 4A Southeast
Head coach: Jacob Rivera, eighth season
2016 record: 9-11-6 (4-4-2 Southeast, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (four)
Top athletes: F Estevan Uribe (Jr.), D Thoren Kaufusi (Sr.), MF Dominick Mesa (So.), GK Deven Scott (Sr.)
Outlook: Uribe (10 goals, 9 assists) will be among the leaders on offense, and Scott (7 shutouts) is back to anchor the defense for the Gators.
“This year’s team features nine new players to the team and has four starters back from last year,” Rivera said. “Our team is young, but we are working toward being a cohesive group and will look to develop chemistry in the beginning of the season.
“We are looking forward to competing and earning a spot in the playoffs. We will look to play our best soccer in October and challenge for a region title.”
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LEGACY
League: Class 4A Northwest
Head coach: Jorge Cobian, fourth season
2016 record: 5-13-2 (3-8-1 Northwest, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Sixteen (12)
Top athletes: GK Oliver Garcia (Sr.), MF Eduardo Gamino (Sr.), MF Juan Cervantes (Sr.)
Outlook: The Longhorns bring back most of last year’s team, a year wiser and more experienced.
“The team is very excited about the 2017 season,” Cobian said. “After not meeting our team goal last year, the boys are working hard in order to earn a spot in the playoffs. This year, the team consists of a large group of talented seniors, as well as a group of younger players.”
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LIBERTY
League: Class 4A Southeast
Head coach: George Rodriguez, second season
2016 record: 4-12-2 (4-4-2 Southeast, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fourteen (eight)
Top athletes: F Ben Stang (Sr.), MF Keanu Sanchez (Sr.), MF Quinn Rankin (Jr.), D Angel Gilliland (Jr.), GK Ivan Rodriguez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Patriots return 14 lettermen from a squad that qualified for the Sunrise Region playoffs last season.
“The team is focusing on team play and attacking with a purpose,” George Rodriguez said. “This is a good year for us to make it to the second round (of the playoffs).”
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THE MEADOWS
League: Independent
Head coach: Jason Zimring, second season
2016 record: Did not field a team
Top athletes: MF Paiton Allen (Jr.), MF Sahil Patel (Sr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs are restarting their program after not fielding a team last season.
“We’re a coed team, and the students are all very excited to build a soccer program here,” Zimring said. “Our focus will be on improving our technical skills, maintaining team shape and keeping games competitive.”
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MOAPA VALLEY
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Jared Bushman, fifth season
2016 record: 0-15-1 (0-10 Sunrise, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Ten (seven)
Top athletes: MF Israel Rubio (Sr.), D Josh Lee (Sr.), F Bryan Robles (Jr.)
Outlook: The Pirates finally have experience on their side with seven returning starters.
Rubio (10 goals, 2 assists) and Robles (5 goals, 4 assists) should be among the leaders up front with Lee helping to guide the defense.
“This will be one of the most experienced varsity teams Moapa has had in the last six years,” Bushman said. “The seniors are motivated and intelligent, and there are some talented underclassmen.
“I absolutely enjoy coaching these young men. No group deserves to win more than they do. Our goal is to do enough to get to the playoffs.”
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PALO VERDE
League: Class 4A Northwest
Head coach: Garry Shackley, third season
2016 record: 16-5 (9-3 Northwest, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fourteen (six)
Top athletes: F Presten Manthey (Sr.), F Henry Robledo-Matadamas (Sr.), F Timothy Stephens (So.), MF Zechariah Ruffer (Sr.), F Bryan Montoya (Jr.), MF Michael Vogel (Jr.), D Cole Lawrence (So.)
Outlook: The Panthers return six starters from last season, including their offensive firepower.
Manthey (18 goals, 18 assists), Robledo-Matadamas (15 goals, 10 assists), Stephens (12 goals) and Montoya (5 goals, 1 assist) all return as strikers with support from Ruffer (4 goals, 4 assists) and Vogel (3 goals, 6 assists) in the midfield.
“The team remains relatively young this season,” Shackley said. “We have many talented players, and the offense from last season remains intact. We have high hopes of a successful campaign.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
League: Class 4A Northwest
Head coach: Brian Lavoie, fifth season
2016 record: 7-7-2 (5-6-1 Northwest, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fourteen (six)
Top athletes: D Grant Johnson (Sr.), MF/F Miguel Trujillo (Sr.), MF Angel Acosta (Sr.), F Peter Jankowski (Sr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs return 14 lettermen from a team that qualified for the Sunset Region playoffs last year.
“With 12 seniors, six returning starters and 14 returning players, this will be the most seasoned team I have had here,” Lavoie said. “The Northwest League is extremely strong from top to bottom, so surviving league play and trying to make the playoffs will be our focus.
“The 12 seniors on the team bring experience and maturity that we haven’t had in the past.”
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SIERRA VISTA
League: Class 4A Southwest
Head coach: Ryan Quinn, 14th season
2016 record: 5-13-2 (4-6-2 Southwest, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (seven)
Top athletes: F Daniel Perez (Sr.), MF Tanner Erwin (Sr.), D Jared Prescia (Sr.), D Eduardo Perez (So.), GK Donovan McCree (Sr.)
Outlook: The Mountain Lions’ sixth-place finish in the Southwest League last year is deceiving as the team was just three points out of third place and narrowly missed a playoff berth.
Thirteen players return from that squad.
Perez (14 goals) and Erwin (3 goals, 4 assists) should be among the leaders on offense. McCree (3 shutouts), Prescia and Perez are back to guide the defense.
“We are a senior-heavy team that is looking to get into one of the playoff spots in the Southwest League,” Quinn said.
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SILVERADO
League: Class 4A Southeast
Head coach: Kurtis Cenatiempo, third season
2016 record: 7-9-2 (3-6-1 Southeast, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fifteen (nine)
Top athletes: D Joel Samayoa (Sr.), D Robert Duplessis (Sr.), F Jaime Ayala (Sr.), F David Matias-Flores (Jr.)
Outlook: The Skyhawks bring back the bulk of last year’s team and hope to improve on their results.
“We look to build on the steady improvement this program has seen over the past couple of seasons,” Cenatiempo said.
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SOMERSET-SKY POINTE
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Casey Guderian, first season
2016 record: Did not field a team
Returning lettermen (starters): Zero
Outlook: The Eagles will make their debut this season.
“This year we hope to build on the foundations of a team capable of competing with other high schools in the state,” Guderian said. “As it’s our inaugural season in the NIAA, we’re looking to focus on and create a team that is dedicated to the sport, and shaping successful student-athletes that are proud to be an Eagle.
“Sky Pointe is anxious to prove itself in the NIAA.”
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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
League: Class 3A Sunset
Head coach: Patrick Mohrbacher, first season
2016 record: 15-1 (10-0 Sunset, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (four)
Top athletes: F Bryan Martinez (Sr.), MF Bryan Garcia (Sr.), D Julien Herrera (Jr.), MF Jonzo Jimenez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Miners graduated a big senior class, including the team’s top two scorers who combined for 57 goals last year.
Still, there’s plenty of talent in the fold for the defending Sunset League champions.
Jimenez was third on the team in scoring last year with eight goals and 11 assists.
“Sunrise Mountain expects to contend for both the region and state title in 2017,” Mohrbacher said.
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SPRING VALLEY
League: Class 4A Southwest
Head coach: James Tippett, fifth season
2016 record: 10-8-4 (5-5-2 Southwest, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Fourteen (seven)
Top athletes: MF Miguel Rodriguez (Sr.), GK Ethan Harper (Sr.), MF Bum Cho (Jr.), D Dominic Velasco (So.)
Outlook: The Grizzlies raised some eyebrows in their return to Class 4A last season, finishing third in the Southwest League.
With 14 lettermen back, the team appears to be primed for success again this season.
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TECH
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Josh Jones, 19th season
2016 record: 9-9-4 (6-2-2 Sunrise, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Thirteen (seven)
Top athletes: D Alejandro Carmona (Sr.), D/F Angel Nunez (Sr.), D/F Eduardo Lopez (Sr.), MF/F Eduardo Gomez (Jr.), MF Alex Mejia (So.), MF Gabriel Aguilar (So.)
Outlook: The Roadrunners bring back plenty of experience with 13 returning lettermen.
Mejia (8 goals, 4 assists), Gomez (6 goals, 6 assists), Aguilar (3 goals, 5 assists), Nunez (2 goals, 2 assists) and Lopez (2 assists) all should help the offense with Carmona, Nunez and Lopez guiding the defense.
“Tech returns a solid nucleus of players that are starting to play well together,” Jones said. “Tech hopes that the youth on the team from last year has matured to make another strong playoff run.”
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VIRGIN VALLEY
League: Class 3A Sunrise
Head coach: Stephen Paylor, first season
2016 record: 3-13-1 (3-6-1 Sunrise, fourth)
Returning starters: Six
Top athletes: MF Jaiden Juan (Sr.), GK Hayden Johnson (Sr.), D Jesus Navarro (Sr.), MF Jose Flores (Sr.), MF Miguel Escobedo (Sr.), F Christian Martinez (Jr.)
Outlook: Paylor inherits a squad that is hungry for success and returns six starters after qualifying for the postseason last year.
“The boys side has struggled for a while,” Paylor said. “I expect that to change this year and the team to improve upon recent years’ stats.”
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WESTERN
League: Class 3A Sunset
Head coach: Kory Pippin, second season
2016 record: 17-7-2 (7-2-1 Sunset, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Twelve (Six)
Top athletes: F Juan Estrada (Sr.), MF Juan Arredondo-Alvarez (Sr.)
Outlook: The Warriors bring back 12 lettermen from a team that advanced to the Class 3A state final last season.
Estrada (15 goals, 5 assists) and Sunset League defensive player of the year Arredondo-Alvarez (7 goals, 4 assists) should be among the team’s leaders.
“The goal remains the same: Be the best team in Nevada in November,” Pippin said.
